Giving Feedback Sucks. Here's Some Help.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, Brene Brown

What She Says: This book covers many aspects of Vulnerability and has many workplace applications. One check-in she provides is the "Engaged Feedback Checklist." This checklist helps leaders identify when they are emotionally ready to provide feedback.

First, a few key points about feedback:

• It is a critical part of leadership
• If it is powerful and meaningful, it will make both the recipient and the giver deeply uncomfortable
• Most people, when faced with providing negative feedback, will either avoid it or approach it from a place of anger. Neither approach will fix the problem
• Nobody should provide feedback without making sure they can follow the Checklist

What This Means for Entrepreneurs: I have noticed that many entrepreneurs skimp on feedback. The main reason for this is that A) in the beginning, they are so close with their employees that strategic feedback is unnecessary - it's happening constantly; B) soon, they become so overwhelmed by the process of starting a business that they simply forget to give feedback.

My first prescription for all entrepreneurs is to provide more feedback to their employees on a regular basis. Some of it will be hard. As soon as you notice yourself avoiding giving feedback or fearing that you will blow up at the employee in the process of providing feedback, you need to check in with this checklist. Work with someone who can help you process these issues before you sit down with the employee.

Virginia Ginsburg is founder and chief consultant at Swell Strategies. She is passionate about supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs in starting and running successful enterprises. An avid reader, in this blog she reviews books and articles and relates specific learning points back to entrepreneurial businesses.