The same principle that applies to performance at the gym also applies at work and in your personal life. Objective feedback is an essential component in the pursuit of optimal performance. How can we possibly maximize our impact, hone our communication skills, and increase our levels of influence without a clear and honest picture of how we appear to others?
To get the input you need for peak performance, try the following strategies:
Ask. Seek the feedback of those whom you know and trust. Don't just look to your supporters. Without honest feedback from your critics, you're just not getting the full picture.
Look for patterns. Are there themes or patterns that emerge in the feedback you're receiving? Are you getting similar information from more than one source? If so, there's probably some truth in what you're hearing.
Keep making the right moves. Where things are going well, keep up the good work. Continually build upon your strengths. After all, if it ain't broke…
Make necessary changes. Experiment with modifying ineffective behaviors. Eliminate self-destructive actions. You may have been shooting yourself in the foot without even realizing it. Now you can stop.
Ask again. Touch base with your feedback network to see how you're doing. What have they noticed? Are your new behaviors working? Can you do more?
Remember that just getting to the gym isn't enough. To continually improve your performance, to be as successful as you want to be, you've got to periodically monitor and modify your actions. So go ahead and ask the question, "Hey, how am I doing?" You may just be surprised by the answer.
About the Author
Liz Bywater, PhD, is a consultant and coach to corporate executives, professionals, and independent business owners. She consults, writes, and speaks on a variety of work-related topics, including workplace performance, outstanding leadership, effective communication skills, and work-life balance.
Dr. Bywater sits on the advisory board for Par Excellence magazine and is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Advancement of Consulting, the Cornell Entrepreneur Network, and Women Inventing Next. She is quoted frequently in the media and has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and USA Today.
To learn more, visit her at www.BywaterConsultingGroup.com. To subscribe to her complementary e-newsletter, filled with practical tips for improving performance, send an email to info@BywaterConsultingGroup.com.
