On Creating a Safe Environment and Asking for Impact Feedback

Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend

Welcome to Anni in Conversation. In this episode I delve into my thoughts and insights into the importance of leaders asking for feedback on their impact felt, and how to create a safe environment in which to have these conversations.
Many years ago, my friend and colleague Steve Radcliffe suggested to me that the two most important questions a leader can ask are...
- how good am I at creating a safe environment for people?
- And what is your experience of me?
Creating a safe environment in which people can be open and honest through practising curiosity, care and courage in their leadership is at the heart of the Collaboration Equation™, a unique framework co created by myself and Lucy kid that encourages and guides leaders in creating cultures of care and connection, in which inclusive dialogue and diversity of thought and feeling are welcomed.
Finding out what people's experience of us is essential to developing greater self awareness. We remember how we feel around people. In any one situation, how people feel around us will vary. So gathering this invaluable data on how different people feel, can help us to ensure that our behaviour is aligned with how we would like people to feel around us.
My own aspiration is to have people feel seen, heard and understood. It's an aspiration. The only way I can find out whether that's how people experience me is to share with them that that's my aspiration, and to ask them:
- How you feel around me?
- When do you feel that way?
So do invite a conversation with people you know, and you would like to build a relationship with and from whom you can get this invaluable impact felt feedback.
Thank you for listening.