Don’t Run from Feedback

I used to be afraid of feedback! I remember when I was a youth pastor, there were times when my senior pastor would call me up and say. We need to talk. And I would try to find every excuse to try and put that meeting off. Cause I knew that he was probably going to say something negative, like how come you're always late in coming to meetings or something that wasn't necessarily positive.  

But as I've grown, I've learned that feedback can actually, be one of the best ways to help you grow. So now, I don't wait for a supervisor or boss to give me feedback, I've actually learned to invite feedback. 

So here's my leadership tip for today! Don't run from feedback!

See every leader needs communication flowing in two ways. First you need to be willing to receive feedback, and secondly, you need to be prepared to give feedback. 

There are two questions that I ask whenever I want to invite someone to give feedback. I may sit down with a departmental director or a person that I have the privilege mentoring or leading, and I ask them two simple questions. 

Number 1. How are you doing?

Number 2. What Can I do to help?

As a pastor, I would sit down with my departmental directors and ask. Hey, how are you doing? How are you doing as a youth leader, how you are doing. And then what can I do to help? 

These two questions can go both ways. So if you're the leader, sit down with your team members one and one and ask them that question, How are you doing, and what can I do to help?

But also, even as a leader, from time to time, I've learned to invite feedback. I sit down with my president or with my superiors, and I reverse the question. I ask, how am I doing in my role, and what can I do to grow? 

If you ask these questions. By God's grace, you will be able to grow and become the leader that God wants you to be. Even Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"  

So I challenge you to follow the example of Jesus. Don't run from feedback, Invite feedback so that you can grow, but also seek to get God's feedback daily through prayer so that you can learn to lead and communicate like Jesus!