How to Get Feedback - by Deb Liu - Perspectives

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When I was an IC, my friend and mentor Brian Boland once told me, “Once you reach a certain level, people will stop telling you the truth.” At the time, I didn’t really understand what he meant. I was still early in my career, and people gave me plenty of feedback. But years later, after a few promotions, his words came back to me. As you become more senior, fewer people will tell you the truth. Some worry about how you’ll take it. Others don’t know how to give feedback because they’ve never done your job. And some are afraid that being too honest could have consequences. Power distance plays a big part. If you act like someone who shouldn’t be questioned, no one will risk being honest with you. When you’re junior, your manager probably did your job before. They can give you direct, tactical feedback. But when you start managing managers or leading functions, the people around you haven’t walked in your shoes. Your job shifts from the craft to the culture. I remember my husband telling

Artwork by my youngest daughter, Danielle. When I was an IC, my friend and mentor Brian Boland once told me, “Once you reach a certain level, people will stop telling you the truth.” At the time, I didn’t really understand what he meant. I was still early in my career, and people gave me plenty of feedback. But years later, after a few promotions, his words came back to me. eBay and PayPal product teams pictured circa 2002; borrowed from Ha. As you become more senior, fewer people will tell you the truth. Some worry about how you’ll take it. Others don’t know how to give feedback because…

How to Get Feedback - by Deb Liu - Perspectives

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