The conversation with my client went something like this:
“Joel, I challenge you to do this task: Prepare the following, then meet with the people whom I interviewed and who provided feedback for your 360° assessment.”
- Thank you for providing feedback. Here’s what I learned: (Very brief statement of a change you are making, or need to make, that is relevant to that individual.)
- A related question I have for you is: (Request for ongoing or additional feedback, and if the topic is a relevant behavioral change that is observable, a request for future, real-time feedback.)
If you wonder why this is so important, ask yourself if you have ever received feedback, directly or indirectly, about a “way of being” that was true in the past (recent or distant) but not true in the present. People remember you as you were until you show them who you have become (or are working to become). And, acknowledging vulnerabilities may feel like it makes you look weak. In fact, it conveys self-awareness, confident humility, and a commitment to personal growth.
Joel considered my request and recognized the benefit. But he raised what appears to be a valid obstacle. He said that in his company, people move fast – quick meetings that get to the point, conclude, and move on. “People don’t spend time on these types of conversations,” he said. Yet I had just interviewed 10 busy executives who had provided feedback for him. Every person offered to provide additional information if it would help Joel. And this is common. Leaders are generally honored to participate in another’s development, even in rapid-paced, outcome-driven cultures.
You can do this exercise even if you have not recently received 360° feedback. Identify any development area you are focused on, whether it’s based on feedback you received, an insight from a conference or a podcast, or a habit you’ve needed to grow (or shed) for a lifetime.
We live and work in community, and development takes place in community. Leadership growth is not a solo sport.
If you would like to participate in a full 360° assessment process like Joel did, please reach out. There are many options, from simply helping you get started on a meaningful development plan to ongoing executive coaching.
The starfish at the top of the page has a special meaning to me. While exploring the coastal tidepools where I live, I have recently noticed an abundance of starfish. These sea stars symbolize adaptability and resilience and can even regrow arms. I recall the starfish as I listen to clients’ stories of struggle, change, and re-emergence, which mirror the development cycle of reflection and acknowledgement of reality, followed by the growth of something new.
