A Correction On Correcting Correctly

Here’s another gut-check statement: If you fail to correct, you are only thinking of yourself.

Ouch…

Last post, I shared my failings on not only reinforcing positive behavior, but leveraging it for the strength of the employees and the viability and vitality of the company. I also attempted to debunk the delusion that distributing positive feedback is a slam-dunk skill that all of us have. We don’t.

You might also think that most CEO’s (though probably not you) don’t want to give critical feedback. That they avoid it. They procrastinate to administer the poison. They are confrontation-adverse.

Again. I say that’s an ignorantly false statement.

The more accurate statement for me is that I just give terrible feedback…regardless of what I’m trying to accomplish.

How we address ill-advised behavior can distinguish the good from the great to the downright inspiring CEO’s. I have had the uplifting experience of being dressed-down in rebuke. I was so appreciative of the feedback that I worked to improve myself and my results. Why? Because my boss thought more of me than of himself. Was it uncomfortable for him? I have no idea. Was it uncomfortable for me? Only in that I was not meeting up to the vision of what he felt I could accomplish. More accurately, it was inspiring.

Again, the formidable task of the CEO is to give feedback to either change performance or reinforce it. Threats, manipulations, coercion, fear can only carry so much, and for only so long. Clarity, candor and commitment to the individual’s performance is what makes a deeper impression and a more solid contribution.

Here is where I fall short: I’m sloppy at reinforcing behavior that drives the results I want, and I’m too careful in correcting. I think that taking the sharp edges off of my words will be more effective at inspiring and edifying and uplifting the employee. The exact opposite is true. The hard reality is that I am only thinking of myself…my own discomfort at demanding the best from someone.

So let me amend the opening statement to read: If you fail to correct correctly, you are only thinking of yourself.

Let me recommend a book that has been helpful for me. Should you use this link, I’ll get a few pennies that I will apply to a non-profit (Doorstep Donations™) I have started to feed the elderly and fatherless in the Denver area.

The book is called, Fierce Conversations, by Susan Scott. Copy and paste the very long address into your address bar to take a look at the book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0425193373?ie=UTF8&tag=insighfromthe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0425193373