Rocks Are Hard

Acknowledge Feedback and Direction

I always say the purpose of communication is to end it.  Meaning, write the memo, the plan, the email, make the case, pitch the idea in such a way that the reader/listener is not required to ask any questions to get a relevant, full picture.

This does not mean re-write War & Peace. But be succinct, appropriately illustrative or instructive and give the context the reader needs to gleen the information you want them to.

At the same time, it's important for the reader or listener -- particularly in a 1:1 dialogue or exchange to ACKNOWLEDGE receipt of said message. Otherwise it requires the sender to have to re-say, re-send, and/or wonder "did s/he get it?" "does s/he understand?" etc. etc. etc.

It's pretty simple. Say what you mean, well. Acknowledge that you got the message AND/OR get clarification so everyone's on the same page.

It's good protocol. More importantly, it's good etiquette.

The end.

Everything Is Feedback

Controversy always surrounds performance reviews -- to do them at all? how to do them? 360? top-down? self evaluation comparison? What does the form look like? and it goes on and on and on.

One thing I think is universal is that no review should be a surprise - your employees should have a good sense of how they're doing, what needs to be worked on, where they are excelling and how they can keep improving in that area (does a coach ever say - great job, no need to work out today over and over again?), and how their overall presence is perceived.

They should know this because we should all be having a constant stream of feedback, positive and constructive, throughout our day-to-day work lives.

The challenge is that everyday feedback is not necessarily heard - the positive or the negative.  I'm struggling with why this is true, but I know that it IS true. (Hell, one of the reasons we started Double Forte with a 10-year experience minimum was to remove ourselves from the constant barrage of social-promotion-conditioned inexperienced people who thought that they should all advance regardless of performance just because the calendar turned over.)

I don't believe we should stop providing feedback ALL THE TIME -- and hello, no feedback should mean that you're doing good.  But I do think we need to take the time to make sure the feedback is felt as seriously as it's intended. I'm not happy about it, but I know we need to shift something so that everything is HEARD in the way it is intended.

Feedback must not be given to tear down, but to help someone improve.  Really. If you don't want your staff to improve, go sit in a closet with a phone and a computer.  At the same time, we all need to LISTEN and ABSORB what we're told.

Everything is feedback. Everything counts. And if you're listening, nothing should be a surprise.

Just Because Your Butt's in the Seat.....

Doesn't mean you've showed up for work today.

Showing up is not about a physical presence, it's about The Force -- YOUR Force.

Do you matter? Are you making a difference in someone's day? Are you moving a ball down the field? Are you making something HAPPEN? or HELPING someone else make something happen? 

Or are you just taking up space? Breathing someone else's air? Have your butt in the seat but are invisible otherwise?

I'm always amazed (i need to stop saying that, i've seen it so much) when I go into a company and find so many people who are just passing through -- work seems to pass right through them but they never seem to raise a hand or the bar or actually pick something up and move it to the other side of the room. 

I know you've been in that meeting. Where you wonder "what exactly does she do?" or "Why doesn't the person on the project chime in here?" or "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" 

Why bother? Really. Are you passing through time just to get to the other side without a ripple of impact? Find something new to do. 

No points here for just being in the room. You have something to offer - OFFER IT! If the people around you don't appreciate it, then find some other people to offer your stuff to.  

All I want to do is wave my hand in front of these people's faces and say "hello!? anyone in there?" but of course, can't do that at the Client. 

Really you don't have an opinion? Really you don't have a thought on your day? Really? 

No Way.