1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 1: Today's tip is about how to give tough feedback. This tip, 4 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: like a few others in recent episodes, is from management 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: expert Allison Green's book Ask a Manager. One of the 6 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: toughest parts of managing is telling people when stuff is 7 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: going wrong. No one likes to give bad news, especially 8 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,599 Speaker 1: if you can't then run out the door and disappear. 9 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: You have to show up and work with this person tomorrow, 10 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: and tomorrow and the next day. So what should you do? 11 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: Green writes that because you have authority and thus a 12 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: great deal of control over people's livelihoods, you have an 13 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: obligation to be kind and compassionate. But you need to 14 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: do that while still setting a high bar for what 15 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: you need and expect from your staff. If the work 16 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: isn't done well, none of you will be around for long. 17 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: So here's how to handle it. First, says Green, the 18 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: kindest thing you can do for your staff members is 19 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: to be really clear with them. Don't put off the conversation, 20 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 1: don't beat around the bush or sugarcoat what's going on. 21 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: If the person doesn't come away knowing what happened, They're 22 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,119 Speaker 1: likely to keep frustrating or disappointing you, and, as Green notes, 23 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,960 Speaker 1: that can have real consequences for them, such as impacting 24 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: their future raises, promotions, project assignments, reputation, and even tenure 25 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: in the job. You owe them directness and honesty. However, 26 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:45,680 Speaker 1: says Green, your tone matters a lot. Your tone is 27 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: the difference between someone walking away thinking that the conversation 28 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: was tough, but he's glad you talked, and someone walking 29 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: away thinking he now needs to go cry in the bathroom. 30 00:01:56,080 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: Think clear, direct words, kind and compassionate tone as you're 31 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: delivering your tough feedback. Take the approach of talking, not scolding. 32 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: The two of you to gather are trying to figure 33 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: out what happened and why so you can avoid it 34 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: in the future. You might think of yourselves as detectives 35 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: trying to piece together clues with conscientious employees notes Green, 36 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 1: which presumably includes everyone you went to the trouble of hiring. 37 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: What happened and what's going on? Maybe all you need 38 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: to ask and that's enough to get things back on track. 39 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,399 Speaker 1: That said, this can be complicated, particularly if the other 40 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: person gets upset, you need to stay calm and so 41 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 1: green notes. With particularly tough or tricky conversations, try writing 42 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: out talking points and practicing them beforehand. Planning ahead, she 43 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: notes can help you structure your thoughts and ensure you 44 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: hit key points. While practicing out loud might feel silly, 45 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: it will keep you from stumbling in the moment. You 46 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: could try I using your commute some morning to practice 47 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: your side of the conversation. That is, if you're driving 48 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: by yourself, you probably don't want to do this if 49 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 1: you're taking a train. By being direct but respectful, you 50 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: increase the chances that your team member figures out a 51 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: solution and avoids the problem from now on. You also 52 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: strengthen your relationship so the two of you can do 53 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: great things together in the future. When good managers see problems, 54 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: they solve them. That's usually the most efficient approach. So 55 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: how do you give tough feedback? You can let me 56 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: know at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeart media dot com. 57 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening and 58 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 59 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 60 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions or anything else. Just connect with 61 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at Before Breakfast pod. 62 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: That's B the number four, then Breakfast p o D. 63 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 64 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: podcast at i heeart media dot com that Before Breakfast 65 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 1: is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, 66 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is 67 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: a production of I heart Radio. For more podcasts from 68 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: my heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 69 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,040 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.