If the people around us at work could only read our minds….What a surprise they would get! Some of it good, some of it bad and much of it just plain surprising!
How much easier life would be if we didn’t have to hold back, avoid, walk on eggshells with so many people, hoping that they will get the message somehow.
Yes – skill is definitely needed in giving honest feedback in a constructive manner. Despite the challenge, if done in a skillful manner and with the right intent, this builds trusting and rewarding relationships. Honest feedback is a form of caring, whereas tolerating behaviors and results that are mediocre or sub-par is a form of indifference.
This avoidance can also be due to lack of trust or confidence in the other person or in ourselves. Do we not believe they are capable of improving? Have we written them off too quickly or are we fearful of repercussions?
Besides skill and caring, another prerequisite is creating the processes and structures that support giving honest feedback as part of a healthy organizational culture.
When done in the right way, honest feedback is a treasure that enables people to grow and thrive and contributes to building a healthy organizational culture.
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