Am coaching the CEO of a large midwest manufacturing firm. Two months ago, we chose to do a walk through a beautiful Chicago park and talk about her progress. I asked for permission to give her feedback on a board meeting from a week earlier. She was a fairly new member of an all male board and was not being taken seriously enough. My question was whether or not she should jump in with new creative ideas all the time, or shift to analytical and financial discussions until they felt more confident with her. The results show that her new approach was very effective. The members of the Board tell her how much she has grown in her role. She laughs when she reflects on the change...she didn't grow,she says, "I'm still the same person she...with a new approach."

Two ideas about giving feedback proved themselves to be helpful...

1. Ask about where the feedback should be delivered, and ask for permission.

2. Walking changes people's emotions and they are less defensive. Asking permission totally changes the dynamic.

Peter McLaughlin, author, "The Feedback Revolution...Getting to "I love Feedback."