Emergenetics Associates: Empower Leaders with Strong Feedback Skills
What skills do leaders, managers and teams need to thrive in the future of work? A McKinsey and Company survey of 18,000 people in 15 countries found that communication is one of the most important.
As you can probably imagine, communication is a comprehensive term that’s made up of several competencies, including active listening:
A technique that involves going beyond simply hearing the words that another person speaks. It’s about actively processing and seeking to understand the meaning and intent behind them. It requires being a mindful and focused participant. (Verywell Mind)
In partnering with organizations, I’ve seen firsthand how this skill becomes a superpower in providing effective, useful and meaningful feedback to direct reports and colleagues.
What Gets in the Way of Active Listening?
Individuals often bring their own assumptions into conversation, which can disrupt their ability to actively engage.
To show how this story can play out, I like to use the metaphor of a radio signal. Imagine that you’re driving in a car, singing along to a song. Then, suddenly, there’s static – or a dead zone if you’re streaming your music. If you want to fully appreciate a song, it’s important to have a clear signal to hear all the lyrics and the notes behind the words. You may even start to fill in the gaps with your own slightly altered lyrics without the singer behind you.
The same is true when you’re trying to offer feedback. Our own presumptions are the static in this metaphor, and they often make it difficult to hear what’s really being shared or communicated. One of the first steps to deliver effective critiques, whether positive or constructive, is to pause before responding and ask yourself: Is there static getting in the way of what’s really being shared here?
Where Does the “Static” Come From?
While there are many sources for our assumptions, two that I’d like to call attention to include the negativity bias and confirmation bias. Research suggests that negativity has a longer shelf life than positivity because of the way our nervous system, which is constantly scanning for potential threats and dangers, is designed. Humans also have a tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms their prior beliefs.
You can see how these biases can come to life through the lens of the Emergenetics Attributes. If we naturally favor certain ways of thinking or behaving, we might be generating negative thoughts about a person or interaction simply because we don’t appreciate or understand how they prefer to navigate work. If something seemingly goes wrong with this alternative approach, it can trigger our confirmation bias to further that negativity.
To get the best outcomes, it’s essential to tighten the frequency so we can communicate accurately.
How Can I Strengthen Active Listening Skills?
To help your people leaders practice taking bias out of their conversations, encourage them to:
- Identify an Emergenetics Attribute that is not in preference.
- Log in to Emergenetics+ and use Brainwork Made Easy to:
- Review the “Be Mindful of” column for that preference.
- Reflect on a time they had negative thoughts about someone who has this Attribute in preference.
- Reference the “You May Appear” column for the Attribute and consider that these sentiments might better reflect their intentions than any preconceived notions.
- Rewrite the story of this experience, considering three of the “You May Appear” statements.
When we can reimagine scenarios with positive intent, it will allow us to reduce static and give critiques in a way that honors the strengths of our direct reports or colleagues.
You can then help leaders tailor their approach to further respect the listener by downloading the How to Give Feedback template in Emergenetics+. Encourage managers to role-play with one another to practice matching the style and speaking to the interests of the Attribute that they identified in step one.
Associates: Want more insights to deliver this activity? Be sure to watch the recording of our Mastery Mondays session, Tune in to the Platinum Rule, available in the Emergenetics+ library.
What Can Effective Feedback Do for Your Stakeholders?
Great feedback makes a significant difference in working relationships and workplace success. When staff know what is expected of them, they are more likely to meet expectations and achieve results. One survey even found that 85% of employees report that they take more initiative when they receive feedback, and a study by Gallup and Workhuman uncovered that when employees receive valuable input they are five times as likely to be engaged, 57% less likely to be burned out and 48% less likely to be looking for another job. These statistics all add up to have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line.
By making an investment in active listening, you will be well on the way to propelling performance for your organizations or the leaders and managers you coach.
Associates: Want to strengthen your capacity to effectively communicate? Explore Elevated Communication: The Architecture of Emergenetics, one of our continuing education programs. Or speak with our team by filling out the form below.
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