Ever have someone confused, shocked, or disappointed by what you just said?
It happened to me last week. Thankfully I tell all my clients I want them to be as candid with me as I am with them and I found out about it pretty fast. This gave me the opportunity to explain what I really meant and apologize for creating confusion.
Sometimes the words we think we are saying aren’t those that come out of our mouths. Just like a stage manager at the theatre who reminds an actor if they mess up their lines, you need people around you who will let you know if your message isn’t as expected or doesn’t land the way you had hoped. (It also helps if you have written a book, because then people can say –“hey that isn’t how she usually explains that – she really means this!”…)
How you respond when someone gives you feedback will determine if you ever get feedback from that person again. Remember this:
Stay curious
Don’t deny how they heard you or experienced you
Ask yourself if it is feedback you want to ignore, consider, or embrace
If you make a mistake, apologize, correct it, and move on. Don’t excessively dwell
Have a sounding board of advisors who you can call and get advice
Do you have people you trust giving you feedback just when you need it?
I will be in New York December 10-12 speaking at the Women of The Channel Leadership Summit East alongside Bobbi Brown and Rent The Runway’s CEO Jennifer Hyman – Let me know if you want to connect while I am in town!
Dedicated to growing your business,
Val
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