Feedback – Even the ‘world’s best boss’ can improve!

We were talking with the Head of Procurement for a major food producer about the role of giving feedback in developing people; something he’s become very committed to in his career. He talked about a phase in his career when he moved fairly frequently between remote production sites where typically he’d be the most senior person, and so “there was no one around to give me feedback. That was a loss to me.” He has an blunt challenge to anyone who comes to him and criticises another: “And do they know that?” He commented that very rarely does he get a straight answer to that question. So, his message is, if you have something to say about a person, say it to that person! It takes courage, but as long as it’s well intended and well delivered it is, as they say, a ‘gift’! Retailers clearly see feedback as ‘Route 1’ to improving what they do. Imagine the impact on our personal development if we were even half as enthusiastic about enquiring “How did I do?”