Your Champions Brew for Friday, February 25, 2022

The Champion’s Brew is a weekly assembly of material I am reading, listening to, watching, or thinking about that is designed to equip and call you to uncommon leadership.  I often add my own little spin based on my takeaways and would love your input as well.  Any of the points especially impact you?  Drop me a note at [email protected], or comment on the blog to keep the conversation going!  I believe you will discover that the format is not only useful, but also that you can consume it within the time it takes you to enjoy your daily ‘brew’!  Become a member of the Champions Brew Nation by subscribing here!!

Here is your weekly drink of what I have been reading, listening to or watching to equip  me to:

• Love Always – Giving Feedback:  Last week’s Brew had some thoughts on being an encourager to help build people up!  Sometimes as leaders we also need to be able to provide criticism of feedback.  That feedback can be to a friend, family member, co-worker, teammate, or direct report.  Giving feedback isn’t as ‘easy’ as giving encouragement.  Her are 5  feedback tips: How many of these do you struggle with?
  • Be specific – Try to avoid being too general about your feedback. Be as specific as you can with regards to the behavior you observed, and when you observed
  • Focus on the situation, issue, or behavior, NOT the person – This is one of the 5 Basic Principles I recall from some of my early teaching in leadership.  While the feedback may not be easy to give, it is still better to focus on the behavior you observed and not the person. 
  • Do not postpone needed criticism – The closer you give the feedback to when the situation or behavior occurred, the more effective the feedback can be.
  • Create a script before going into the conversation – I am a big fan of SBIA – Situation, Behavior, Impact, Action.  When I create the template with the observation I had, it is so much easier to remain on topic in the feedback conversation and avoid steering or ‘deflection’ from the one hearing the feedback.  And, by finishing with Action, you can set an expectation for what IS the expectation going forward.
  • End feedback with encouragement – People want to know, “Do you care about me?”  Often times in feedback, there can be a negative response.  AND, if you have already invested in building an open relationship with the one you are giving feedback to, they are more likely to receive it well.
• Eat Healthy:  Are you all air fryer fans? I have become a fan over the past year.  I find the air fryer to be a great cooking tool for many different proteins, sides, and even my father-in-law has mastered the “air fryer cheesecake”.  Mostly, we use it as a healthier alternative to deep frying.  I came across this article recently in EatingWell online.  It outlines 10 Low-calorie, high protein air fryer recipes for weight loss.  For me, it is less about the weight loss, and more about the healthy lifestyle.  One of my favorites on this list is the air fryer chicken cutlets.   

• Verse – The date was 2/22/22. A palindrome meaning it was a date that reads the same forward and backward.  It happened earlier this month as well with 2/2/22, so even our European friends who write their date, day/month/year encountered the palindrome with us Americans!!  Anyway, I also came across a fun Bible verse this week that had a bunch of 2’s as well.  2 Timothy 2:2 reads:

“Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people; who will be able to teach others also.”

Palindrome coolness aside, isn’t THAT really the essence of Growing Champions?  You grow yourself (hopefully one way you do is by consuming the Champions Brew weekly) through personal development SO THAT you can share that learning with others who will also then become Champions!  We Grow Champions who Grow Champions!!

What you need to do:

Call to Action:  So much here this week I have to have TWO (get it?… 2…)calls to action! 

1. Who have you been delaying giving feedback to because you lack the courage to do it.  I hope the tips above can help you to have that feedback session
2. Who do you need to share this Champions Brew with this week SO THAT they can start on a personal growth journey themselves?!!

Let’s continue the conversation.  Email me at [email protected] or comment on the blog about what you find valuable with the Champions Brew this week.  Is there something you would like to see me add?  I am open to feedback!!!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with a friend who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.

One last thing… Season 2 of the Uncommon Leader Podcast is starting up in March!!  Click here to listen to the trailer about the exciting new conversations that will be coming your way.  Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast?  Do you have a story to tell?  Email me [email protected] and lets have a chat and set something up!!

Until next time, go and Grow Champions!