As Leaders Are Promoted, They Get Less Positive Feedback
We All Need Positive Feedback
We all need positive feedback – whether you’re working in a mailroom or you’re the CEO of a multinational corporation you need affirmation of your good work. (Yes, contrary to popular belief, even people at the highest levels need positive feedback).
Positive feedback helps us maintain our motivation, increases our resilience, and cements our commitment to the hard goals we must attain.
Oprah Winfrey says that every person she has ever interviewed, no matter how high up or successful, including President Barack Obama and Beyoncé, has asked the same question after the interview:
“Everybody that I ever interviewed after every interview at some point somebody would say, ‘How was that? Was that OK? How’d I do?’ — Oprah Winfrey
These highly successful people are seeking positive feedback from a very well-respected interviewer.
Top Leaders Receive Little or No Positive Feedback
However, studies show that as leaders are promoted, they get less and less positive feedback.
This can be detrimental to the leader who is not receiving feedback and to their career. If you don’t receive positive feedback, how do you know that what you’re doing is right or effective?
Feedback (both positive, constructive or critical) is essential to achieving high performance. Actors and musicians get applause, but what do Executives get? Crickets.
Does the Absence of Positive Feedback Adversely Impact Leaders?
According to Cambridge University, giving feedback may be the most important skill a leader can have.
But studies show (and every Employee Satisfaction Surveys we’ve ever seen have shown) that leaders are not giving enough positive feedback to their employees and their teams.
This may be because leaders are often focused on getting a task done, rather than focusing on supporting the people they lead. But, it may also be that not receiving positive feedback impacts a leader’s ability to give positive feedback effectively.
Make Sure You Give Positive Feedback to Leaders at Every Level
Positive feedback from even from subordinates (and colleagues) can have a positive impact on morale, resolve, and motivation. So, make sure you are giving 360 Degree positive feedback!
As Leaders Are Promoted, They Get Less Positive Feedback – Video
In the following video, Sherri Cannon, PCC, Executive Coach and Donna Schilder, MCC, Executive Coach & President, Donna Schilder Coaching, discuss how as leaders are promoted, they receive less positive feedback and why this is something that could prove detrimental.
As Leaders Are Promoted, They Get Less Positive Feedback – Video Transcript
Sherri Cannon, PCC, Executive Coach:
When I heard you say that about the leader actually changing and asking for that kind of feedback, what I thought was, “Isn’t there some research?” I don’t know what it is, but there used to be something about what happens if someone rises up over the course of their career, I think feedback drops dramatically that they’re receiving.
Donna Schilder, MCC, Executive Coach:
Yes. And there’s a wonderful book called “Encouraging the Heart” by Kouzes and Posner, I always get that a little off, but it’s a wonderful book and it talks about the fact that we need feedback and that everyone needs feedback and that all leaders don’t give enough of it.
And if you look at employee survey scores, which I’ve worked with year after year after year, that is almost always the lowest score is getting positive feedback.
Sherri:
Really?
Top Leaders Need Feedback
Donna:
Leaders just don’t stop and do it. They’re too focused on the task. It’s a wonderful book, please read it.
But not only do people at the lower levels need feedback, people at the upper levels need feedback and I’ll tell you one thing that I always did when I worked, was I always gave my boss positive feedback because
I knew they didn’t get it. And I knew that I wanted to help reinforce the behaviors that I thought weren’t good in them. Sometimes people just say, “Oh, at my level, I don’t need any feedback.”
Well, maybe you don’t need quite as much, but you still need positive feedback, you still need thank yous and all of that goes a long way to motivating.
Be the Leader you’ve always wanted to be!
Donna Schilder
Donna Schilder