Showing posts with label feedback. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feedback. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

On Kaizen


People who want to learn and are serious in getting better always ask for feedback. This is true for athletes, students, workers and even leaders.
 If you want to stretch yourself, apply kaizen, a never-ending improvement. Small changes, if done regularly, would result to a big change.
 You can ask your boss “on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest and 1 the lowest, how would you rate me as a worker?” If your boss says, “6” ask “how do I make it to 10?” This is a way to level expectations between you and your boss.
Ask your child, “On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest and 1 the lowest, how would you rate me as a parent? What do I need to do to score a perfect 10?’
If you are not a good worker or parent, expect to get hurt with what you will hear. Continue listening and commit yourself to change for the better. This practice of asking questions will be difficult for arrogant and insecure leaders.
 Listening and asking for feedback is a humbling experience. If you are not serious in changing and improving, do not ask for feedback. It will just be an exercise in futility.
Not all change will lead to improvement. But there will be no improvement without change.

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions." -Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson, "The One Minute Manager"

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

On Complaining

One day in my life as a guest-lecturer for a  university, a young student approached me at the  end of our discussion.  "I don't like your teaching style," he said with a moue of dissatisfaction.  "I don't either," I said.  "Do you have any suggestions?"
You see, it is very easy to criticize.  But before you critique, do you have a suggestion to offer?  Take a proactive approach and highlight the benefits of your suggestion.

There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints. -Rita Dove