The 21 Day Challenge

I realize I started my blog without telling you why I had a blog. That is like starting a conversation mid-way through, and in the end that leaves a lot of questions.

I went to this class called iLoveFeedback, it is a class that teaches 5 practical steps to giving effective feedback. At the end of the class there is a challenge, the 21 day challenge. Science shows that it takes 21 days to make something into a habit, so by trying to use feedback everyday, it becomes a part of your life.

Well who wants to give feedback every day? Does anyone really like feedback? The answers should be 'everyone' and 'yes', but our culture helps us with the answers 'no-one', and 'no'. Feedback has such a negative idea around it, but when delivered in an effective way, feedback is a gift. Seriously, if well intentioned and well delivered, feedback should help you improve results and relationships, or sustain ones you are doing well.

Do not get me wrong, it is hard to give feedback everyday, or at least to consciously think about giving EFFECTIVE feedback everyday. Who doesn't talk to the other drivers on the road, or think to themselves that they could do x, y and z better than W and M. But do we actually deliver any of this feedback? And if we do, is it done effectively?

The 21 day challenge is a mental reminder to stop yelling in traffic, and to effectively talk to the people who you want to give feedback to.

Now I mentioned earlier there are 5 steps:

• Find Your Zone
• Get Smart
• Create The Message
• Deliver The Feedback
• Encourage, Energize, & End Well

These 5-steps are the tools to effective feedback. And as I blog about my feedback experiences, one or more of the steps should be at play to make the situation effective...