Growing Leaders Love Feedback

Feedback is important to give and take as a leader.  Most of the time an event or sermon happens and there is no evaluation process in place to help improve from it. How do we except to grow as leaders if we don’t take the time to have honest feedback?

The reasons feedback does not happen: 
1. Insecurity: We feel inadequate inside and refuse positive correction.

2. Fear of failure: We feel that if we open ourselves up for feedback, we will be rejected and exposed as a failure.

3. Pride: We decide that people who work under us do not deserve the right to give us feedback on our sermon or event.

4.  Apathy: Why talk about the past? The event went okay. Who cares?

How do we break through the normal approach and become excellent in our leadership?

To grow as a leader, you must learn to embrace feedback:

I have found that the 4 helpful lists is one of my favorite tools in ministry.

1) What is right:
It is vital to start with the positive. Always celebrate what great things that happened and how God was glorified! List as many positives to celebrate how God changed lives! 

2) What is wrong:
 List specific parts of the event that did not go well. Don’t spend a long time on on each one. List them quickly. Remember to redirect people if they become increasingly negative to look back at what went right!

3) What is confusing:
List ways that caused confusion. If people did not know where to register for the event or a small group leader had no idea where their group was meeting, list it as confusing.

Think back and ask the questions:
“Were there any leaders that were uncertain of their expectations?”
“Did we do all we can to communicate to those involved?”

4) What is Missing:
 Did everyone receive a schedule when they showed up at the event? Did leaders show up prepared? Did someone remember to lock up the building when everyone left?

I have learned a lot from using simple leadership lessons on staff at Church @ Springs. We love to give feedback. Healthy, fun and interactive feedback. I have never had so much fun learning from each other. It is a great environment of sharing ideas with each other.

The most important principle is to have an umbrella of grace in the meeting. Help each person realize that they are to expect grace and expected to give grace to others.

To grow as a leader, you must learn to embrace feedback.

What type of feedback strategy do you follow? If you haven’t put one in place, give the 4 helpful lists a try!

What thoughts do you have on feedback?

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