Can You Deliver Feedback Without Cringing?

As the leader of your business, the buck stops with you. If something isn’t working to your satisfaction, if a team member isn’t meeting your expectations or standards, it’s up to you to express your dissatisfaction and request a change. But dishing out criticism, even if it’s phrased as “constructive,” isn’t always easy to do effectively.

Women, in particular, seem to have a tough time delivering the news. Sometimes we store up our unhappiness and frustration because we tend to be master conflict avoiders. However, you can avoid rocking the boat only so long until resentment and frustration builds to a point of pressure where we lose our composure.

Are there ways for us, as women entrepreneurs, to deliver needed feedback without having to cringe while doing so?

Absolutely!

Here are some ways I recommend you deliver feedback effectively and clearly, and stand in your power in the process.

1. Be Prepared

Do yourself a favor and write a few notes out to help clear your head and get clear on what’s not working. Look at the facts of the situation. Leave any judging or guessing why someone isn’t meeting your needs out for now. Get grounded in knowing what your request is and what the consequence will be if the situation doesn’t get turned around to your satisfaction.

2. See the Feedback as a Gift

When delivering feedback to someone, set an intention to come from a place of service – to yourself and to the other person. Keeping quiet and letting resentment start to brew within you doesn’t help anyone. Telling someone your truth is a gift, even if they end up being disappointed or hurt in the moment by it.

3. Speak Straight and from the Heart

If you have bad news to deliver or a request to make, get to the point. Avoid the tendency women have to start to use indirect language as a way to worm out of delivering a critical comment. Speak from your heart and invite the other person to see how your request for change is in service of the greater good of your company and the people you serve.

4. Be Prepared to Listen

When delivering feedback, it’s important that you allow space and time to listen to the other person. It’s not all about you talking. It’s also about listening. Give the person a chance to be heard and to have their views acknowledged. You may still end up parting ways, but at least you have defused any potential for lingering resentment or upset.

Using these strategies, I bet you’ll be surprised at how quickly and effectively you’ll be able to deliver feedback without cringing!