The feedback I'm talking about here isn't some sort of formalised appraisal that takes place with your team members every month, or every six months or once a year. This feedback happens continually and it happens when you see or hear something you want to give feedback on. The trick is - keep it simple.
If you see or hear something you do like - you tell the team member about it. If you see or hear something you don't like or feel could be done better - you tell the team member about it and you coach them.
Confirming Feedback is about giving the good news. It's about confirming to your team member that you approve of whatever it is you've seen them do or heard them say. It's a compliment or a thank you.
It also seems to be something that some managers have great difficulty with. They take the attitude that - "why tell people that you're pleased with them when they're only doing what they're paid to do in the first place."
A great deal of this attitude stems from managers believing they having to be big and tough and macho. And managers don't do all that touchy-feely stuff, saying thank you is for wimps.
If you still feel a bit like that, think for a moment how you felt if a manager ever gave you a genuine compliment or a thank you for a job well done. I bet you felt pretty good and probably motivated to do even better. I'm also sure you didn't think your boss was a big softy or that he lacked courage; probably the opposite.
Successful managers realise that almost everyone reacts positively to Confirming Feedback. They feel better about themselves and they feel motivated to repeat the behaviour. There is a saying that says - "You get more of what you reward."
Michael LeBoeuf tells this fable in his book 'The Greatest Management Principle in the World.' -
A man went fishing one day. He looked over the side of his boat and saw a snake with a frog in its mouth. Feeling sorry for the frog, he reached down, gently took the frog from the snake and set the frog free. But then he felt sorry for the snake. He looked around the boat, but he had no food. All he had was a bottle of whisky; so he opened the bottle and gave the snake a few shots. The snake want off happy, the frog was happy and the man was happy to have performed such a good deed. He thought everything was fine until about ten minutes passed and he heard something knock against the side of the boat. With stunned disbelief, the fisherman looked down and saw the snake was back with two frogs!
So if you tell one of your team that you like the way they have completed some aspect of their work, then you'll find that they continue to do that work in the same way or probably even better.
However, your feedback must be genuine.
Sometimes on a seminar, I ask the group - "Who likes receiving compliments?" Often only a minority will put up their hand. I then ask them - "Who likes receiving a genuine compliment?" This time almost everyone puts up their hand. People often feel that a compliment isn't really meant and they sometimes feel a bit patronised. That's why it's important that your Confirming Feedback is genuine and it
sounds genuine. Don't say it if you don't mean it!
Sam Walton the founder of Wal-Mart once said - "Nothing else can substitute for a few well chosen, well timed, sincere words of praise. They're absolutely free and worth a fortune."
Confirming Feedback is worth a fortune to you in terms of motivating your team and achieving your goals and targets.
Discover how you can generate more business by motivating your team! Alan Fairweather is the author of "How to get More Sales by Motivating Your Team" This book is packed with practical things you can do to get the best out of your people . Click here now http://www.howtogetmoresales.com
http://www.howtogetmoresales.com
cheap limo service Lombard .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareEight Principles for Purposeful AlignmentEffective teamwork requires individual members of... Read More
We exist in such a rapidly-changing environment. Technology is moving... Read More
Just today my partner Russ and I sat down to... Read More
Multiculturalism is a reality in North America and for those... Read More
Introduction:Working with teams, whether as leader of a single team... Read More
So much has been written on this subject; Team Work,... Read More
Picture yourself entering a corporate meeting, team meeting, or business... Read More
People who lead the best teams realise early on that... Read More
Team Building Question:I'm a manager of a team of 20... Read More
"Conflict becomes politics, commitment becomes 'Only if it's in my... Read More
There are few industries or service type businesses, which are... Read More
The first in a series of articles giving a slightly... Read More
Too often teams aren't assembled. They just happen. A project... Read More
In the constantly changing world of Call Centers, asking agents... Read More
It's a great sunny day so it's time to get... Read More
Everyone knows, works or lives with "innies." Who are they... Read More
The grand purpose of coaching is to help your managers,... Read More
I'm often asked, "Why is my team always fighting fires... Read More
Abstract: Based on significant research, Entelechy has defined characteristics of... Read More
Today, most of us have been involved in a team... Read More
A tight knit team is a group of competent individuals... Read More
The key to life is to be around the people... Read More
Feedback:Most experts agree both types; constructive and positive feedback are... Read More
The rise of the internet has given businesses a new... Read More
Teams don't have to be aligned with the goals of... Read More
limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..Having experienced more than my fair share of conflict over... Read More
The first in a series of articles giving a slightly... Read More
Workplace safety is important to all businesses for ethical, legal... Read More
Several years ago I took an assignment as a Manager... Read More
The Sales Director had organised a great conference; the venue... Read More
The ability to build effective teams is a must for... Read More
Team Building Question:I'm a manager of a team of 20... Read More
If asked to look at your work calendar for the... Read More
Any x by y matrix plan has one big risk...... Read More
Survival: The Name of the New Economic Game People rarely... Read More
Multiculturalism is a reality in North America and for those... Read More
Reed Employment made a survey of their clients and compiled... Read More
As the world of manufacturing has become increasingly competitive, managers... Read More
Do you remember how you felt after your last interaction... Read More
Who keeps the wheels turning in your organisation? Who holds... Read More
For a brief time, I tried to sell life insurance.... Read More
A lot of effort has been carried out in the... Read More
The Dance of ConflictWhen faced with the prospect of meeting... Read More
More and more I hear people misunderstanding what someone else... Read More
One of the best ways to ensure that your planning... Read More
With over 25 years of research and experience, we have... Read More
Teams run most businesses and teams work best if each... Read More
Group discussions are where much of the creative work of... Read More
Recently I decided to stretch my athletic abilities and add... Read More
Team building takes work but the results are worth it.... Read More
Team Building |