INNERGISE!

  • 21 Mar 2012

    Ask the question! It’s a gift

    For anyone with management or team leader responsibility, it’s time to look in the mirror based on the latest survey (conducted by the CMI and Penna). How much to we really know about how we are perceived by our team and by others?

    The survey, which drew on responses from 4,500 managers and 300 CEO’s and 550 HR managers, suggested 43% of managers thought that their line managers were ineffective. Ouch! No wonder some leaders avoid asking the question and risk being exposed. The research also confirmed the (not surprising) link between effective management and organisational performance, with employees in high performing organisations rating 80% of their managers as effective (vs 39% in low performing organisations).

    As managers, or indeed anyone, to develop ourselves to become as effective as we can be we need to excel at it and become comfortable at getting as much feedback as possible. When was the last time we asked our colleagues and team how effective we are and what we could do differently moving forward?

    • What can I do more of?
    • What should I stop doing?
    • What I start doing?
    • What should I continue doing (that I do well?)

    The results might not throw up surprises however it will provide clarity and identify one or two things that if changed would increase effectiveness and earn you the right to expect others to be open to feedback.

    Having asked the questions, here are eight tips for receiving feedback:

    • Listen actively
    • Make sure you have understood
    • Ask questions (if the feedback is unclear)
    • Avoid getting defensive
    • Ask for examples
    • Thank the giver
    • Gather additional information where appropriate
    • Consider whether to act on the feedback or not – it is your choice.

    Nobody ever became a great manager by being complacent, which is what we do by not finding the time to get feedback from those we work with.

    Innergy are offering a free anonymous leadership 360 survey for the first ten people to contact Innergy on info@innergy.co.uk

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