Executive Gatherings

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Leaders who receive performance feedback are much more likely to improve their performance than those who don’t get feedback. But research tells us that it’s simply not true. Typically, performance after feedback improves only modestly, and over one third of the time, it actually gets worse. 

But if feedback doesn’t always and easily improve performance, what should Leaders do? 

“Executive Gatherings” is a better idea than “Pushing.” Executive Gatherings entails teaching, coaching, and developing leaders rather than pushing — or correcting — them. Executive Gatherings says, “Here’s how to get ahead in this company; we’ll provide you with guidelines and coaching to help you master these skills and behaviors.” 

To get favorable results from performance evaluations, evaluators must set positive expectations, showing that they believe improvements can be made, and that the feedback itself — even negative feedback — is an opportunity to learn rather than a punitive final word.

Done correctly, Executive Gatherings can lead to improvements — but don’t forget to “pull” for those improvements by making clear the skills and behaviors needed and helping them to acquire them.