Feedback. The mere mention of the word can make our blood pressure rise and our defenses go up. But many of our beliefs and ideas about feedback are incorrect and counterproductive, and have been long distorted by our experiences. This week, we’re excited to launch a practical guide to taking the sting out of feedback and reclaiming it as a motivating, empowering experience for everyone involved.
Feedback (and Other Dirty Words)
For many of us, feedback is a dirty word that we associate with bias, politics, resentment, and self-doubt. However, if we take a step back and think about its true intent, we realize that feedback needn’t be a bad thing. After all, understanding how others experience us provides valuable opportunities to learn and grow.
Authors M. Tamra Chandler and Laura Grealish explain how feedback got such a bad rap and how to recognize and minimize the negative physical and emotional responses that can erode trust and shut down communication. They offer a new and more ambitious definition of feedback; explore the roles we each play as Seeker, Extender, and Receiver; and introduce the three Fs of making feedback focused, fair, and frequent. You’ll also find valuable exercises and strategies, along with real-world examples that illustrate how you can put these ideas into action and join in the movement to fix feedback, once and for all.
When it’s done right, feedback has been proven to be the most effective means of improving communication and performance for you and your organization. It’s too important to give up, and with Chandler and Grealish’s help, you’ll be able to use it deftly, equitably, and effectively.
Meet the Authors
M. Tamra Chandler is the founder and CEO of PeopleFirm LLC, one of Forbes Magazine’s 2018 “America’s Best Management Consulting Firms.” She is a nationally recognized thought leader, author, and speaker. Tamra has spent most of her 30-year career developing new and effective ways for people and their organizations to perform at their peak. In 2016, she wrote the acclaimed book
Laura Dowling Grealish is a lead consultant at PeopleFirm known for her passion and conviction to optimize human potential by bringing the human back into the workplace. Laura has more than 20 years of experience working with leaders and teams to enhance performance and connection at the individual and group levels.
Praise from Readers Like You
“This book was super easy to read, practical and encouraging. I started practicing what Tamra calls, ‘The Fine Art of Noticing’ and committed to extend feedback at every opportunity. I’m actually amazed at the difference it has made with my colleagues and clients.” —shelshel, 5-star Amazon review
“As a senior leader, I found this to be a really helpful guide in thinking about how I could be doing a better job of both seeking and sharing feedback more regularly with my team. This is a fast, easy read but full of great insight and tips on how we can all get better at feedback.” —Brooke, 5-star Amazon review
“The CONNECT conversation model is so simple to remember, I find myself recalling it often in conversations both at work and in my personal life. Overall, I highly recommend this book — would be valuable for organizational leaders ready to change the way feedback is sought, extended and received in their companies, as well as for anyone looking to improve his/her communication skills.” —JC, 5-star Amazon review
“This book introduces simple and powerful methods, backed by science to make feedback focused, fair, and frequent. It includes valuable exercises and strategies along with real-world examples that enable the reader to put these ideas into action. The author’s guidance will enrich your relationships both at work and in your personal life and deepen your appreciation of those around you.” —Leslie, 4-star Amazon review
Learn More
- Visit Amazon to buy a copy of the book, or leave a short review of it.
- Check out the website for a free chapter and ways to support the book.
- Join the #fixfeedback movement, and invite your friends to join too!
Elizabeth Johnson loves the color yellow, strong {black} coffee, editing, and exploring the mountains in rural Wyoming and Utah, where she and her husband serve as church planters. In her free time, she enjoys learning new things, hand-lettering and acrylic painting, and gaming with her husband.