Great leadership involves listening to and evolving through feedback—both positive and negative. Feedback offers opportunities for leaders to assess how they're doing, the impact they have on others, and find areas for growth. You can become a better leader tomorrow by asking for feedback from constituents today.

1. ALL EXEMPLARY
LEADERSLISTEN TO FEEDBACK
Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner

2. Without feedback you cannot grow.

3. Our research shows that asking
for feedback is the behavior in which
leaders engage least frequently.

4. A major reason leaders avoid
asking for feedback is because
they are afraid of being exposed—
as not being perfect, not knowing
everything, not being as good as
they should be.

5. But the best leaders are active
learners; they look for feedback
because they never believe
they know it all.

6. These leaders are open to new
ideas and know feedback has to
come from constituents, the only
people who can reliably report the
impact a leader’s actions
have on them.

7. Develop a habit of asking
for feedback.

8. Solicit feedback from people
you trust, and who trust you.
Let them know you value their
observations. (And never punish
anyone for honest feedback when
you’ve asked for it!)

9. View feedback through the frame
of a growth mindset, in which
you assume your capabilities
are always evolving.

10. You can overcome deficiencies
if you put in the effort, and
even painful information can
motivate you to improve.

11. If you practice reframing
feedback as an opportunity to
improve it will get easier
over time.

12. Be sure to demonstrate that
you’ve heard and understood
the feedback, not only in your
words, but most importantly
in your actions.

13. http://bit.ly/LearnLeadership
Leaders must go first in creating a
climate in which people trust one
another enough to provide valid
and useful feedback.
Learn more about the five fundamentals of becoming a better leader.