One Huge Reason Why People Don’t Reach Top Performance

Feedback is essential for top performance. No one will ever reach their potential without consistent feedback from others.

If someone were to ask me if I am a good husband, my answer is a resounding YES! But wait, who really has the final say on that? Not me, but my wife – she’s the one with the power to judge. Now, if you were to ask me about my skills as a dad, my answer remains a confident YES! Yet again, the ultimate proof lies with my kids.

Now it’s your turn to reflect: as a leader, do you consider yourself a great leader? Hold on a second because the truth is that the verdict lies with those you lead.

It’s not enough to assume we’re doing well without any input. Feedback is the key to performance, offering invaluable insight into our effectiveness.

Let me share a powerful story that demonstrates the transformative power of feedback. In Garden Grove, California, they faced a serious problem in school zones – people were speeding and endangering the safety of children. Despite their efforts with signs and speed limits, nothing seemed to work. The situation remained unchanged.

But in 2003, something extraordinary happened. They installed speed displays that showed drivers how fast they were going. And guess what? Feedback became the game-changer.

In real-time, drivers received feedback on their speed, and everything changed. Suddenly, everyone started obeying the rules, and the impact on the school zones was astonishing. Witnessing how a simple feedback mechanism can bring about significant change is fascinating.

Even more intriguing is that drivers already had access to their speedometers. They could easily glance down and see their speed. However, it wasn’t until they received external feedback that their behavior truly shifted. The power of visible, real-time feedback cannot be understated.

This study proves beyond doubt that feedback is not just helpful – it’s essential. No amount of signs or speed limits can compare to the impact of immediate, external feedback. It has the power to transform behavior and deliver exceptional results.

So, let’s remember this lesson in our leadership. Embrace feedback as a catalyst for growth and improvement. There are two ways we need to do this:

1) Seek Out Feedback

Seeking feedback can be the missing piece to your leadership puzzle. It can give you valuable insights into how others perceive your actions and behavior and help you grow as a leader. Seeking feedback from your team, peers, and superiors can help you better understand your strengths and weaknesses. It can also help you identify your blind spots, areas where you might need to improve, and aspects of your leadership style that might not work as well as you think. Self-awareness is a crucial component of effective leadership; seeking feedback can help you get there.

2) Give Feedback To Others

As a leader, you are responsible for guiding your team towards success. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is by providing feedback that helps your team improve their performance. Feedback is critical because it gives your employees a clear idea of what they are doing wrong and helps them understand what they need to do to perform better or what they are doing right and helps them continue on. Providing feedback also will help you build trust with those around you. When you provide feedback, you show that you care about your team’s success.

Check out this podcast episode where I talk about The Guardrails of Accountability. This will give you a great framework for holding your team accountable with feedback.