Centered Leaders and Criticism

Do you think it's the role of a leader to criticize?

There is a big difference between analyze and criticize. Leaders do have the responsibility to provide clarity to their teams, and clarity requires a certain level of analysis.

But to criticize implies a tearing down, tearing apart, deconstructing of performance that may contain some nuggets of use but truck loads of side-effects. How do YOU like to be relentlessly criticized?

You can always find things to criticize if that's what you're looking for. That does not build confidence or strength in your team.

What does build confidence and strength?

- Debriefing team members on what went RIGHT
- Building a culture of continuous improvement
- Providing opportunities for people to operate from their strengths
- Knowing the strengths of your people
- Developing people
- Providing frequent, instant feedback (and finding more positive points than critical ones)

What other ways can you think of to build confidence and strength on your team?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Learn more in the workshop: Communicating for Results

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