Do you loathe giving feedback? Does it make you want to burrow into a hole like a wombat and not come out? Are you constantly looking for the ‘right’ thing to say?
Well, you’re not alone.
But fear not my four-legged, furry, marsupial friend, I’ve got a simple, mini-framework that I think will help. It involves doing just two things: sharing something you observed and asking a curious question. I call it: observations and curiosities, or O’s and C’s (cue The OC soundtrack).
Here’s what it might sound like in action:
- I noticed you were really quiet in that client meeting, and I’m wondering what’s on your mind? or;
- I heard you say you’re overwhelmed and I’m curious how can I support?
- It sounds like you’ve really thought through this plan in detail, which makes me wonder: what do you need in order to take action?
That’s it.
So the next time you’re in a feedback conversation, avoid serving up the dreaded sh*t sandwich and instead, try on some O’s and C’s.