One of the first dates my wife and I had, I made an incredible steak and couscous dinner with green beans. This dish had to be perfect for the perfect woman. My then-girlfriend ate the meal, reveling in the impeccable mastery of my cooking skills, but she only ate about half the couscous. My world was shattered. I had to ask her—was the couscous not okay? She told me it was spectacular; she was just so full and didn’t want to eat carbs. This made complete sense to me—how could anyone refuse my incredible couscous?
With Chelsie’s encouragement, I made my famous couscous every date night for weeks to come. I started having dreams of opening a couscous ice cream store. I imagined edible couscous art. This magic food was going to transform my life, right? Unfortunately, one day, Chelsie had enough courage to tell me that she thought this side dish designed for royalty was just simple—well, gross, and she didn’t like it. As my world came crashing down, I didn’t know how I would ever get out of bed again. Fortunately, she loved me for who I am, and I was able to adjust the side dish and still manage to marry her. While she tells the story differently, we all know her courage, albeit delayed, set us both up for success.
All kidding aside, this story highlights the impact of courageous feedback. Chelsie’s honesty, though initially painful, allowed us to grow closer and understand each other better. This principle is just as vital in the workplace.
The Importance of Courageous Feedback in Our Sales Team
In my work with Injano, I’ve seen how critical honest feedback is for high performance. Employees often crave constructive criticism but rarely receive it due to a lack of courageous leadership. Without this essential feedback, employees can feel isolated and demotivated, much like I did when I thought my couscous was a hit.
Leaders need to have open conversations about performance and expectations to foster an inclusive and thriving work environment. At Injano, we believe in the power of courageous feedback to unlock potential and drive success. By addressing issues directly and empathetically, we create a culture where everyone feels valued and understood. This not only boosts individual performance but also strengthens the entire organization.
So, let’s embrace courageous feedback and make it a cornerstone of our leadership. It can change the course for high-performing individuals and create a more inclusive and supportive workplace.
And on a lighter note, even though I don’t make couscous anymore, I always bring my best effort to the table—just in case!
Call to Action:
Comment: Have you ever experienced a situation where feedback could have made a difference? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments below!
Share: If you found this post helpful, please share it with your network.
Follow: For more insights on leadership and high performance, follow me and Injano on LinkedIn.
