The Power of Connection: How to Give Feedback to Your Boss Effectively

Brief 

Giving feedback to your boss can be daunting, but with the right approach, it can be a productive part of your business relationship. Learn how to build a connection with your boss before giving feedback and how to receive feedback as a leader.

Insight

Feedback is an essential part of any successful business relationship, but it can often evoke negative emotions in people. This is especially true when it comes to giving feedback to a boss. The best way to increase the chances of a boss taking feedback on board is to build a relationship with them first. People who confront upper management without having built a relationship are unlikely to have their feedback well-received.

Building a relationship with a boss is like putting money in the bank. Giving feedback draws something from the interpersonal bank account, so it’s important to have some goodwill in the account to balance things out. In one example, the author admired the dean’s writing skills and asked for feedback on a paper he was working on. This led to a follow-up meeting where the dean asked the author for his opinion on dealing with difficult people in the school.

As a leader, it’s important to encourage feedback from team members. Servant leaders don’t shy away from feedback, and they make themselves approachable and easy to connect with. When receiving feedback, leaders should remember that it’s a gift and focus carefully on what the person is saying. They should thank the person for their feedback and ask if there’s anything else they should know.

Negative feedback can be difficult to hear, but leaders should rise above the way it’s presented and use it as an opportunity to improve. Leadership is about serving others, and feedback from team members can help leaders bring out the best in themselves and their teams. Giving and receiving feedback without judgment is a best practice for any leader who strives to achieve great relationships and great results.

Highlight

1. When giving feedback to upper management, it’s important to connect with them before confronting them. Building a relationship with someone is like putting money in the bank, and delivering feedback to that person draws from that interpersonal bank account.
2. As a leader, it’s important to encourage feedback from your team members and not shy away from negative feedback. Let your team know that you really want to hear what they have to say and you won’t get defensive.
3. When receiving feedback, focus carefully on what the person is saying and rise above the way it may be presented. Don’t let your ego keep you from being your best self or bringing out the best in others. Giving and receiving feedback without judgment is a best practice for any leader who strives to achieve both great relationships and great results.

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