“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a manโs growth without destroying his roots.”
โ Frank A. Clark
Hey there ๐,
Letโs talk about feedback.
โHave you got a minute?โ
A few people on my team hated when I said this. It was never bad news, but their brains would immediately jump to the worst-case scenario. If that quick โcatch-upโ was scheduled for later in the day, they’d often spend the entire time worrying about what I wanted to discuss.
A simple tweak made a world of difference. By adding, “Donโt worry, you’re not getting fired,” or being more specific about the topic, I reduced their stress and anxietyโmaking for much more effective conversations.
Curious to dig deeper into feedback and why it can trigger so much stress? Thisย articleย explores the research on the topic.
TL;DR? Hereโs a quick breakdown:
- A study led by psychologist Tessa West found that simply knowing they will receive or give feedback can significantly increase people’s anxiety.
- This explains why feedback often turns into polite yet unhelpful exchanges.
- A culture of being overly nice can water down feedbackโs impact, preventing genuine improvement.
- The research suggests a shift to encouraging a culture where feedback is sought out rather than given unsolicited. This reduces anxiety and fosters continuous improvement and smarter decision-making.
How confident are you in your feedback skills?
Can you give feedback up, down, and across your team? Or is this something you’re looking to improve?
If youโre interested in sharpening your skills, hereโs a great free course from the University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera for practical tips and inspiration.
Libby & the SafetySocial team.
Safety Sally
Tired of performative safety? Savvy Sally isnโt here for the safety theatre. ๐ญ
She knows that a campaign is only worth running if it makes people stop, think and actually stay safe.
Check out the full cartoon here.
This Week’s Best of: Advertising
Take a Desk Break
Loving this collab between Succession’s Logan Roy and Asics, promoting the importance of getting up from your desk.
As someone who relies on a daily walk to keep my brain happy, this really hit homeโespecially as a counterbalance to those eight hours spent sitting at a desk.
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