09/23/2022
One of my strengths is giving in a way that builds . In addition to strengthening relationships, each time they accept my feedback, they elevate their and mine.
I used to get stymied when people rejected my feedback. I felt hurt, attributing their rejection as feedback that they did not value my perspective.
I learned how to seize their rejection as an opportunity to strengthen our relationship. I learned how to do this while leading where influence was the skill that I developed and this was the first challenge I had to overcome to keep volunteers wh rejected my feedback.
This relatively recent story illustrates how my approach works. It involved a friendship. When I gave positive feedback to my friend, he rejected my feedback. The first time it happened, I let it go. When it happened again, I seized the moment as an to understand why my friend would not accept my feedback. First, he shared that he learned growing up to be humble. Then, he went deeper and shared that he did not think highly of himself. I then asked him if he ever thought about the effect his rejection had upon the person who gave him the feedback, to which he responded that he had not. Then, I shared what the experience was like for me. He thanked me for my helpful feedback. By going deeper, we strengthened our relationship.
I would love to learn additional approaches. If you have one and are open sharing yours, please let me know either by phone, 812-343-2697, or by email, [email protected].
