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Leadership Feedback Loops

Posted on March 11th, 2011

I was  reading a recent WSJ article titled “Five Signs That You’re a Bad Boss.”  (Link to article) My SEO friends tell me that lists get lots more hits than not, hence the title.  The article provided the popular “Experts say…” as a way to lead off the list.  The list wasn’t bad (I’ll provide it below) but the most useful point was that people perceived as bad bosses often don’t realize it.  They roll along thinking that their staff is at least moderately happy with them, while people grumble in the background.

How to avoid this?  Create some sort of feedback loop to keep you informed on how your staff view you.  Easiest- just ask them.  Tell them that your door is always open and ask them individually what you might do better to help them do their job.  Asking them as a group won’t usually get you an answer so keep it personal.  Also- 360 survey’s?  Can’t hurt.  If you’re lucky you’ll have a peer who interacts with your group regularly, or a trusted staff member who will tell you the truth.  If so, use these people as a low-key way of monitoring the impact that you make.

This list from above?  Here goes:

  • Most of your emails are one word long
  • You rarely talk to your employees face-to-face
  • Your employees are out sick- a lot
  • Your team’s working overtime but still missing deadlines
  • You yell

I can’t say that I disagree with them, but I’m sure there’s more.  Well, enough writing… time to go connect with some people.

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