Wes Kao

How I was told to give feedback: 
  
 → Focus on past mistakes. 
 → Point out what went wrong. 
 → Rehash errors they've made. 
  
  
 What I actually did to support my team: 
  
 → Discuss solutions for the future. 
 → Identify areas for growth. 
 → Frame feedback as a learning tool. 
  
  
 Feedback about past mistakes doesn't fix problems. 
  
 ↳ Dwelling on mistakes breeds fear. 
 ↳ Fear kills engagement and innovation. 
 ↳ Focus on past failures stifles growth. 
  
  
 How do we pivot from criticism to solutions? 
  
  
 To create a team that truly learns and grows, shift the conversation towards future-focused solutions. 
  
  
 Consider this scenario: 
  
 ↳ Something didn’t go to plan. 
 ↳ You’ve been told your team made critical mistakes. 
  
  
 You acknowledge that dwelling on mistakes hurts your team's morale and stops innovation. 
  
 You want to support your team. 
  
  
 So make the shift and ask yourself: 
  
  "How can we improve going forward?” 
  
  
 Take the time to reflect: 
  
 → Were there hidden obstacles? 
 → Did the team lack resources or information? 
  
  
 Share your thoughts: 
  
 → Ask your team for creative solutions. 
 → Their insights might surprise you. 
  
  
 Use your insights to empower and strengthen your team: 
  
 → Help them identify strengths that emerged despite the mistake. 
 → Encourage them and show them how to proactively use these strengths going forward. 
  
  
  
 Here's your action plan: 
  
 1. Break down the mistake: 
 Analyze each step to find where things went wrong. 
  
 2. Create a "Lessons Learned" document:
 Capture key takeaways for future reference. 
  
 3. Encourage proactive information seeking: 
 - Empower team members to ask questions. 
 - Help them flag uncertainties at project conception and before problems arise. 
 - Encourage them to share expertise with each other. 
  
  
 **The Takeaway** 
  
 Traditional methods often promote harsh criticism instead of solutions. 
  
 True collaborative success comes from fostering a culture of learning and growth. 
  
  
  
 P.S. Ever feel pressured to improve your team without knowing where to start? 
  
 Share a time when focusing on past mistakes backfired. 
  
 Let's learn from each other! Share your experiences below 👇