Some people have thicker skin than others. They welcome feedback and don’t take it personally. For others, it helps to…
Casey’s eTip: Give Feedback with Care and Customization
When some people receive corrective input, they perceive it as rejection or a threat. Their body floods with stress hormones and strong negative emotions. It can be difficult for them to process what is happening. From the outside, you may notice tension, defensiveness, avoidance, etc. This phenomena is sometimes called rejection sensitivity.
Once the crisis or incident has passed, ask your colleague how you can provide feedback in a way that they can receive and stay present for. Your thoughtfulness will increase their sense of safety for next time. And always stive to make your words neutral and not attacking, e.g., “The assignment was not completed on time” instead of “You were irresponsible and turned it in late.” I highly recommend the book Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg for ideas about how to communicate with words in ways that all recipients can receive without defensiveness.
This eTip brought to you by the Communication/Relationships link in your Productivity Chain.
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