Welcome feedback. I welcome feedback. I had a managers meeting recently when I used an example of an experience I had, and one of the managers challenged the story I was telling. The manager was saying that my example wasn’t necessarily the best way to handle this particular situation. And what they said was right. That means I had to say that, ‘I’m wrong. What you said is a much better way of handling the situation than I did.’ So it’s living the same principles in front of everyone and not elevating yourself, that you are a person that the normal rules don’t apply to. I’m not a big believer in the idea that we’re in some special category of individuals because we’re leading the company. I struggle with many of the same things that my staff does. Sometimes I’m wrong. I have to admit it, and I have to take ownership of a mistake or missing something. When the culture is that way and everyone takes ownership, and everyone sees leadership behaving that way, it makes everything run more smoothly.
Feedback is hard to solicit at times because people are just afraid to be honest. That is a really big thing in our culture. People don’t want to ruffle the feathers of others. You have to continuously give people permission, ask them and almost plead with them. Tell them, ‘Please, if you see something with me that doesn’t add up with our company values, please e-mail me, come knock on my door, leave a message on my phone. I want to know.’
Create the right environment. Your employees have to know that you are about becoming the very best leader you can possibly be, and if they don’t tell you when you’re doing something wrong, how can you ever learn? It’s creating a learning environment and a growing environment. You have to say to your employees, ‘I’m not perfect. I’m not the No. 1 CEO in the world. I’m learning, too.’ But you have to keep watering, keep fertilizing and keep asking for their feedback.
As a leader, you need to understand the value of getting your employees involved and seeking their input. A lot of leaders don’t. A lot of leaders are either really insecure or they think more highly of themselves than they should. You could go it alone and get up to a certain level, but if you allow the opinions of others, you’ll be able to bring your company further along than you might otherwise.
How to reach: Regency Enterprises Inc., (800) 284-2024 or www.regencylighting.com