- everydayfeedback
Embody the Value You See in Feedback with Your Voice, Posture, & Gestures
Updated: Nov 3, 2020
When people are serious about a concept they are speaking about and they place a lot of value on the idea, you know it.
Their physical posture is in agreement; they sit up or stand up straighter. Their sentences end in a more authoritative “drop” and you know that they are personally convinced of each point they are making. Their hand gestures are steady. No matter how simple or “large” the gestures, they precisely reinforce the message.
Nervous or jerky movements are absent and their voice is strong and clear, not fading away. No coughing, squeaking, or looking away from the audience.
You probably think I’m about to tell you how to stand, gesture, and use your voice while delivering feedback But that’s too hard. Most of us aren’t professional actors who can take such cues and transform ourselves into wildly confident feedback cheerleaders. If you are apprehensive about giving feedback and building a feedback-focused team, that reluctance will leak out into your body language.
The quickest way to convince others of the value of feedback is to be convinced yourself! When you are convinced feedback will be great for your team, you will EMBODY that message and others will be convinced too!
Review in your mind all of the positives you perceive about feedback and how it will help your team
Try out a few simple feedback conversations in the next few days, using topics that naturally flow from your work projects. Don’t rehearse or make it hard. Start by saying: “I’d like to make a few suggestions about…” and then “What suggestions do you have for me on this?”
Have a chat with someone who gives a lot of great feedback that people really appreciate. They will be an evangelist, happy to tell you about it!
Here are a few articles on how to proceed in giving feedback confidently.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize When Giving Feedback: How to Psych Yourself Up!
Stop Scaring Yourself When You Give (or Receive) Feedback
Right away, you will become more convincing when you recommend more feedback in your team! You will look like you mean it!
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