Feedback lessons from a sensitive gps

Meryl Runion Rose, Chief Iteration Officer, SpeakStrong Please share freely with credit.

How to Give Awesome, Effective Feedback

“At least you tried.”

Lessons from “a GPS System for Sensitive People”


Ever notice how personally people take it when their GPS system corrects them?

I’d love to go that way, but my GPS lady will yell at me if I do.


That tells us a lot about feedback

• People often hear neutral feedback as criticism

• People sometimes go out of their way to avoid perceived criticism

• People will believe outside input over their own observation


I smell an opportunity

For someone: • A GPS system for

sensitive people that corrects with grace and humor

For SpeakStrong:• A blog post inviting

collaborative input of phrases for a GPS system for sensitive people (www.speakstrong.com/blog)

• Insights from the contributions


So I went for it. And here’s what people suggested:

Imagine you took a wrong turn and your GPS tells you…

1. Interesting choice! I like a little adventure but if you don't, I'll lead the way. Either way, we'll get through this together.

2. You made a mistake but you’re not a mistake.

3. Five years from now this will not matter.

4. I like the way you show initiative! Now may we try my way?

5. Calm down, take a deep breath and let's try this again.


Imagine: you took a wrong turn and your GPS tells you…

6. You relax and enjoy the ride -- I will handle the directions for you. One less thing on your plate!

7. Great, let's take this route instead. You can...

8. You just discovered a new way to get there.

9. You're the driver and there are many different ways to get to the same destination.

10.Taking a fresh route gives you fresh eyes on the journey and the destination.



11. The question is …does your choice of track take you in the direction you want to go?

12. Oops! We made a wrong turn. Let's turn this around at the next legal U-turn.

13.It is great how self-sufficient you are. I’ll follow your lead.

14.Think of all the things you learned from taking this wrong turn.

15.You are one wrong turn closer to a right one.



16.Innovators rarely do what they're told!

17.Wow. I never thought about getting there this way. Would you prefer I reroute you, or get you back on the previous route?

18. I'm sorry. Perhaps I wasn't clear. You were supposed to turn back there.

19. It's just a missed turn. It's not failure, it's feedback.

20.Everybody makes mistakes. Even me, and I do this for a living!



21. I like the way this is unfolding – even though it wasn’t in the plan.

22.You may have made a bad turn, but that doesn't make you a bad person.

23.Everything teaches you something. What are you learning from your wrong turn?

24.Two wrongs don’t make a right, but three lefts do!

25.Switch points change the direction of our lives.



26.Relax. This may not be the quickest route but we’ll get there.

27.Innovation doesn't grow from taking the same path as everyone else.

28.Ah ha! I see you are taking the Super-Ultra Route! I will re-route us based on your turns.


What did you hear, like and learn in the suggestions?

Vote for your favorites here:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/H6XQZSP

(The person who submitted the winning one will receive $100 in SpeakStrong products.)

• I appreciate any and all comments.• You can still submit phrases suggestions until August

13th. The sooner yours get up posted, the more opportunity people will have to vote for yours.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/H6XQZSP


Qualities of effective feedback

• Clear• Aligned with the learner• Graceful• Acknowledges intent• Makes the best of the

current situation• Lighthearted• Moves the situation forward• Encouraging• Embraces the big picture

• Adaptive• Separates the person from

the mistake• Owns the giver’s role• Joins instead of judges.• ???• ???


Ever notice how much more people are willing to attempt when they can count on supportive feedback?

Want to learn how to give feedback people can hear, understand and apply?

I’d love to go that way, and my GPS lady

will help me do it.


How to Give AwesomeEffective Feedback Webinar

www.speakstrong.com/webinars

Lessons from “A GPS System for Sensitive People”

Learn more and discover the winner

Wednesday, August 15th

Feedback lessons from a sensitive gps

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