1 Fast Way to Improve Your Leadership Skills – Constructive Criticism

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president… is morally treasonable to the American public.

– Theodore Roosevelt

Constructive criticism is one of the most underrated tools to help us ALL get better. As leaders, we need to be able to take it as much as give it. We also need to be willing to take it from those who report to us, but in most cases the people on your team will be reluctant to do so for any number of reasons. Don’t just be open to it, show some vulnerability and solicit their feedback so that they feel comfortable giving it.

I even did this with my Marines…I used to tell them, “If you think something is screwed up, you have an obligation to tell me…if you think I’m being an asshole, you have my permission to tell me. Just be tactful, maintain proper military protocol (finish each sentence with “sir”), and bring a solution with the complaint.”

That doesn’t mean you’re taking action on every bit of feedback you receive, but that openness helps build the trust that’s missing in so many senior/subordinate relationships.

They deserve your leadership, so lead them.