[Alicia Davis] So as a manager, you probably have to give feedback to your staff that is challenging. And what we hear all the time from our clients is that that can be really difficult. And that’s what we want to talk about today, we want to offer some tips and strategies about how to how to prepare yourself and how to do that perhaps a little bit more effectively with a little less anxiety, right, Stacie?
[Stacie Watson] Absolutely, you know, that whole idea of preparing yourself is really worth taking just a moment to talk about. I think, oftentimes, we are very preoccupied with the words we’re going to use with the person and what their reaction or their response might be. And it’s easy to forget that part of why this process is difficult is because we ourselves feel anxiety. And so the more that we can really recognize our own discomfort, and whether it’s taking a few deep breaths, or whether it’s maybe even practicing what you want to say, with someone, or your manager, or a trusted colleague, just so the words feel more comfortable, or familiar, you know… Any of those things that we can do to prepare ourselves can just help us go into the conversation with a little bit less anxiety, and that can really help us be more productive in our conversation. And you have some thoughts about that, right?
[Alicia Davis] Well, yeah, you know, it came up yesterday in a session I was doing… Constructive criticism, we often put that together and criticism is not constructive. What we’re offering is feedback, right? And so going into that, you know, not only having practiced with those words but going in with the intention of support. So even if you’re wanting someone to redirect or shift their behavior in some way, to be sharing in a way that is about them learning and growing, not so much about it being punitive in some way. Right? So having that intention and that language about, about growth and about support, I think can really can really make a difference, you know, in your conversation, right? That’s the constructive part, building someone up, right? So, we, we have this session called “Communicate to Drive Action” in our Learning Academy, and it’s coming up actually at the end of July. And so if you or some of your staff want to learn more or practice these skills, join us on July 31st in the Learning Academy. So, I’m Alicia Davis.
[Stacie Watson] I’m Stacie Watson.
[Alicia Davis] And thanks so much for listening. We’ll talk to you soon. Check us out at Academy.TLSTransforms.com. Thanks.
[Stacie Watson] Thank you.
