Asking the Right Questions Are Key to Good Feedback in the Workplace

Available for Interviews:  Dr. Kelly Waltman

Kelly Waltman, PhD, is the Founder and CEO of SLR Leadership Consultion, LLC. She is also the author of Elevate Connection: Cutivate and Engaged, Inspired, Productive and Profitable Team Culture.

What Dr. Kelly Waltman can say in an interview
on Reflective Questions and Feedback in the Workplace
:

By setting aside a specific time to request feedback from your team members,—and receiving that feedback effectively—you’ll show your team members that you genuinely want their feedback, you value it, and it’s safe to come to you with that feedback.

      • When asked about their openness to receiving feedback, many leaders say I have an open-door policy. However, while this statement and approach are rooted in good intent, those leaders probably aren’t actually getting open dialogue or feedback from their team. 
      • Feedback isn’t a passive exercise, and it’s not enough to simply have an open-door policy.
      • Leaders need to be active participants in the feedback process and they need to be intentional about creating spaces and opportunities for that type of dialogue. 
      • One of the simplest and most effective ways to begin cultivating a feedback culture is to schedule an “upward feedback” session with your direct reports. Don’t do this in conjunction with their performance reviews, but rather make this a separate meeting where you’re soliciting feedback on your performance as a leader. 

Some great questions to ask include:

INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL QUESTIONS

    •  What are you getting from me that you find helpful?
    •  What are (or aren’t) you getting from me that impedes your ability to be effective?
    •  What could I do that would help you be more successful?

TEAM-LEVEL QUESTIONS

    •  What is our team getting from me that is helpful? 
    •  What could I do to help our team be more successful?

Although it sounds good on paper, having an open-door policy isn’t the best way to get feedback. Having the tools and the means to use them is the most intentional and effective way to achieve the successful outcomes that only good feedback produces.

 

Interview: Dr. Kelly Waltman

Kelly Waltman, PhD, is the Founder and CEO of SLR Leadership Consultion, LLC. She is also the author of Elevate Connection: Cutivate and Engaged, Inspired, Productive and Profitable Team Culture. Located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, SLR Leadership Consulting offers individual- and team-based coaching and professional development services with an emphasis on workplace culture, communication, and getting comfortable with feedback. 

With over twenty years of experience developing and delivering curricula, Dr. Waltman has a passion for helping individuals learn and grow. From the classroom to the boardroom, she has designed content for groups of all sizes. She also brings over a decade of managerial and leadership experience to her work—holding director-level positions with previous employers, and serving as a board member for local non-profit organizations.

In addition to her work with SLR Leadership Consulting,  Dr. Waltman founded She Leads and Reads, a monthly book club, and content curation site focused on personal and professional development books.

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Jo Allison
Managing Editor
Director of Public Relations
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