Tag: feedback

Appearance and substance

FabrizioLeave a comment

The way you behave with people is at least as important as the words you speak.

The story you tell is at least as important as the subject you are narrating.

The marketing you deliver is at least as important as the product you have come up with.

The point is, there is appearance and there is substance. Pretending one does not exist just because it makes you uncomfortable is heavily limiting your own possibilities to succeed.

Make the effort to align them instead. Make behavior and words, story and subject, marketing and product go hand in hand. Bring one at the same level of the other. Make them support each other and be in harmony.

That’s when the feeling of uneasiness will just go away.

Minimal reaction

FabrizioLeave a comment

Others will never be as excited as we are about what we do. Nor will they be as committed, as ready, as present, as purposeful, as proactive, as determined.

The first thing we ought to do when we care about something is to let go of how others will relate to it.

And that’s where “do what you like” is an advice that actually makes sense. Find something that you like, something you would do no matter what. How others will react to it is then going to be a byproduct of doing that can only add to the pleasure. Even when the reaction is minimal.

Ambition

FabrizioLeave a comment

Why is it so easy for us to look at where we are today and think at where we could be tomorrow? And at the same time, so difficult to look at where we are today and think at where we were yesterday?

Without the ability to appreciate progress you’ll never be able to achieve your ambitious targets.

Remote listening

FabrizioLeave a comment

One cannot overstate the importance of listening.

And now that most are relegated to their own home offices, conversations happening through a screen, listening is more challenging than ever.

We are all very busy trying to control our appearance, our background, our environment, the kids screaming in the other room, the cat jumping on the desk to broadcast their behind, the email that just came in, the little red circle signaling that somebody just sent us a message – it might be important. And the most we can do is listening while waiting for our turn to speak.

Just being mindful of this very challenge can help you find ways to overcome it.

  • Use the camera only if you can handle it, it is OK to keep it off.
  • If you are on a two-screen setup, turn off the second screen. Maximize the app you use for the call, and shut down all other distractions (email and browser, in particular).
  • Keep your hands off the mouse or trackpad.
  • Take notes on a piece of paper.
  • Use headphones.
  • Apply coaching tactics such as asking open questions and mirroring, to keep yourself engaged and the other listened (you can find some very useful ideas in this past post).

We’ve got this!

Exploring feedback

FabrizioLeave a comment

Feedback is such a popular topic nowadays that managers are pretty much forced to give some.

And so, they resort to “good job!” – or the equivalent “great job!”, “terrific!”, “fantastic work!”.

If you are getting that, take the time to make your manager’s life a bit more challenging. No need to worry, you are just asking them to do their job.

Ask them.

What did you find good in what I did?

What do you think could have been better?

How would you have managed that situation?

How does this relate to our high level goal?

Where do I grow from here?