Comments on: Direct Report Needs to Work on Executive Presence? Ask Madeleine https://leaderchat.org/2023/07/29/direct-report-needs-to-work-on-executive-presence-ask-madeleine/ A Forum to Discuss Leadership and Management Issues Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:41:02 +0000 hourly 1 By: Steve Riddle https://leaderchat.org/2023/07/29/direct-report-needs-to-work-on-executive-presence-ask-madeleine/#comment-86179 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:41:02 +0000 https://leaderchat.org/?p=17194#comment-86179 A great response, Madeleine. Your section regarding the ability to ask effective questions is spot on. I would take it even a little further and ask something like, “When I mention the word feedback, how does that make you feel?” Similar to your questions, the opportunity to explore and allow the manager to disciover is key. Once responded, use the team members words to delve deeper through paraphrasing and more questions. It is fascinating how often people come to their own conclusions with the right, supported conversation. The best feedback is self-feedback. That is where the power of effective questionning comes in.

I would also add, there is too much definiton of feedback as positive, negative or similar. It is feedback, full-stop. As soon as we mentally prepare for these discussions as ‘tough conversations’, ‘difficult feedback’ and similar, there is a subtle and unconscious tendency to present it that way through tone, intonation, language etc.

See it for what it is – earn the right to have the conversation; make sure it is owned; and follow-up. If this teamm member has genuinely been given the opportunity for growth and is supported, yet continues to reject the development, then that is why she is not ready for promotion. It can’t be both ways.

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