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Do people give you honest direct feedback? Or do they sidestep around you or even walk away? If you want people to be upfront with you, here’s how to make it easier for them to do just that.

Direct Feedback: How to Get People to Be More Direct w/ You. Image by Joe Benjamin via Flickr Creative Commons License.

Image by Joe Benjamin via Flickr Creative Commons License.

Direct Feedback: Help Others Be Upfront With You

If you establish a reputation for taking feedback well, most people will be more upfront with you. For leaders this is critical for leadership success. For employees, it is vital to career progression. In sales and service, the customers’ honest direct feedback is essential for long term success.

Make It Easy for People to Give You Direct Feedback!

1. Ask open-ended questions. Don’t ask for approval (e.g. Don’t you think what I/we are doing is great?).
2. Listen to the feedback without defending yourself and your actions.
3. Thank people for direct feedback. Do not respond with reasons why you did something. It sounds like you are telling them they are uninformed.
4. Accept the direct feedback. Don’t accuse, demean, or attack back (e.g. “You’re not perfect either”).
5. Treasure direct feedback and honor those who give it. Don’t take offense or revenge.

Important Reminder: Be Respectful & Honest Not Brutal

Direct feedback is not a brutal demeaning attack. If you are giving or receiving feedback, be respectful and civil. Civility doesn’t weaken the message it helps others hear it.

Final Thought: There will always be people who won’t give you direct feedback. Their own discomfort stops them from being upfront. Yet when you establish a reputation as open-minded and respectful, many more people will see that it is safe to be respectfully direct with you.

Related Posts:
20 Common People Skills Mistakes That Drive People Away From You
Confidence Beats Disdain Every Time
Why People Label Others & How to Stop

©2017 Kate Nasser, CAS, Inc. Somerville, NJ. I appreciate your sharing the link to this post on your social streams. However, if you want to re-post or republish the content of this post, please email info@katenasser.com for permission and guidelines. Thank you for respecting intellectual capital.

Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach™, delivers coaching, consulting, training, and keynotes on leading change, employee engagement, teamwork, and delivering the ultimate customer service. She turns interaction obstacles into interpersonal success. See this site for workshop outlines, keynote footage, and customer results.

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Tags: business, Career, communication, direct, feedback, honesty, interaction, interpersonal skills, leaders, Leadership, listen, maturity, people skills, reputation, respect, self-confidence, Soft Skills, success