Feedback – the breakfast of champions?????

One of the keys to the success of the counselling course I attended was the feedback given and continuous learning process therein. Without it progress would have been impossible.

However what if the feedback cannot be taken? What if the response to feedback is withdrawal?

Firstly let’s distinguish between poorly given feedback and so called ‘best practice’. Assume for this argument that ‘best practice’ is used. My metaphor here is that for a person with an eating disorder even the best prepared meal might be unpalatable.

So with feedback what can stop the ‘well prepared meal’ being taken and used for nourishment? I guess many things.

I recently observed this. First thoughts are that there must be arrogance or superiority involved. However in my experience perceived threat or insecurity are more likely causes.

Perhaps I have answered my own question here – perhaps in these circumstances a conventional dish is inappropriate and something quite unconventional needed!

Faith

We started out 5th High Performance Leadership Programme for a company this week and what a great bunch of folk they are taking part.

We had a really interesting discussion re organisational change and faith.

From my own experience without some type of faith in a future nothing is achieved as nothing is either planned for or tried as there is no vision to guide. Vicktor Frankl found this when he said in the horrors of the concentration camps it was those with families to hope for that survived the best – horrible I know. (You will see the book Mans Search for Meaning here).

A guy I know - nice fellow - recently forwent the opportunity of a cheap week skiing because he said ‘there might not be any snow in April’. Sure and there might not be sunrise but it doesn’t stop us setting the alarm clock. The next day 1 metre fell and easyjet put tickets on sale at £14 each! Well none of us want to take unnecessary risks but come on!

I was minded of Luther King:

“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase”.

or Rossevelt

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith".

I don’t really want to keep up up-dating on the week that’s past, but rather create the weeks ahead through thinking. If anyone would like to see what we have been up to then please click here for a news letter.

The blog will be as alive as ever

Oliver