This month we are going to focus on feedback. Feedback is tough to hear. (C'mon – admit it!) Feedback is difficult to share. Feedback helps you improve.

The subject of feedback — hearing it and giving it — has fascinated me for years. We inherently know that when accurate feedback is given, it is useful to us. Yet it hurts — sometimes. It's almost like a Band-Aid being pulled off. It hurts for a while, but if taken seriously and addressed, the wound heals, and we can be stronger for it.

On the other side, giving feedback is one of the most difficult things any manager or supervisor or parent, or friend for that matter can do. Who wants to be the messenger in the feedback game? So many times in my business experiences have I seen people avoid giving the feedback that was needed, in hopes that it would just "go away." And the behavior usually came back worse.

I believe that there is an art to providing feedback that works. I have devoted the last few months collecting managers' and supervisors' questions about their difficulties with providing feedback, and I'm looking forward to collecting even more. So if you would like to join in – sharing your most important challenge with providing feedback – here is the link.

Later this month, we will release a package of information that comes directly from all of those questions we've collected. As a newsletter recipient, you'll be on the distribution of information about it.

We are going to devote our blog posts and podcasts this month to the ups and downs and insides and outs of giving feedback, so please stay tuned for tips and strategies that can help you in winning the feedback game!

Face the Fear of Feedback (20 second read)

Delaying Feedback Doesn't Help Anyone - (50 second read)

How to Give Feedback that Motivates Changed Behavior ll - (40 second read)

The best email tip we can give you on the subject of feedback is to never give "helpful" feedback by email.

Feedback should be dialogue, an email is never dialogue. "Nuff said!

"One of the things I've learned is to be receptive of feedback." — Ben Silbermann

"Everybody needs feedback, and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than paying a trainer." — Doug Lowenstein

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions." — Ken Blanchard

Your challenge this month is to ask for feedback. Do it without being defensive. Here are some words that might work:

• How can we/I make the presentation even better?
• What more or less can we/I do to __________________?
• Is there something we are not considering about ________________?