How to Get Upward Feedback: Why You Should Love It and How

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6321bbcb2930bed99990fc98_How to Get Upward Feedback

Talk to your employees about why upward feedback is important and explain that you want to receive honest input from them.

As your employees’ leader, it’s important that you hear honest feedback from them about your performance. After all, they’re the ones who see you in action every day and know how you’re really doing. That’s why upward feedback is so important. It allows you to get unfiltered input from the people who know you best. So go ahead and talk to your employees about why upward feedback is important. Explain that you really want to hear their honest thoughts about your leadership. They might just surprise you with what they have to say.

Ask them directly for their thoughts and opinions on your leadership skills and style.

If you really want to know how your team feels about your leadership skills, why not just ask them? You might be surprised by what they have to say. Of course, you need to be prepared to hear some criticism, but if you’re open to feedback, it can be a valuable way to learn and grow as a leader. Plus, it shows that you’re interested in what your team has to say and that you’re willing to make changes based on their input. So go ahead and ask your team for their thoughts on your leadership skills and style. You might be surprised by what you learn.

Be open to receiving constructive criticism and use it to improve your leadership skills.

One of the best ways to become a better leader is to be open to constructive criticism. By definition, constructive criticism is designed to help improve your work, so it’s important to listen to what others have to say and then use that feedback to make changes in your own leadership style. Of course, it can be difficult to hear negative feedback about your work, but try to keep an open mind and remember that the goal is to become a better leader, not perfect. In addition, it’s important to provide constructive criticism to your team members as well; by doing so, you’ll not only help them improve their work, but you’ll also establish yourself as a leader who is committed to continuous improvement.

Asking for upward feedback can be a difficult task, but it is an important part of leadership development. If you take the time to explain why upward feedback is important and ask for it in the right way, your employees will be more than happy to provide it. Upward feedback can help you become a better leader by providing critical input that you can use to improve your skills. So go ahead and ask for upward feedback from your employees – it might just be the best thing you ever do for your leadership development.

For more tips on giving and receiving feedback, follow Fringe insights. We’re always sharing new ways to improve your feedback game!

Now that you know the importance of upward feedback, check out our blog post on how to give downstream feedback. Giving feedback can be just as important as receiving it!

 

Rachael Bosch is the Founder and CEO of Fringe Professional Development. Fringe's mission is to help people thrive at work through better communication. Rachael holds a brain-based coaching certification through the NeuroLeadership Institute and certificates of Women in Leadership and Mediating Disputes from Cornell University and Harvard Law School of Executive Studies, respectively. Rachael is an active member of the Forbes Coaches Council.
Rachael Bosch, Founder & CEO, Fringe Professional Development

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