Fixing Feedback

INTRODUCTION

After more than 20 years working, leading, managing and consulting, it's clear to me that the number one thing that gets in the way of people being awesome is … being a dick!

Do I really need to explain what ‘being a dick’ means? I did some research, and apparently ‘being a dick’ is a common phenomenon. It knows no bounds. It spans nationalities, cultures, industries and disciplines. When I mention the subtitle of this book, the near first thing that people say is, ‘I could buy that book for someone I work with’.

We all know people who are not cool to work with. These people often say the wrong thing, lack self-awareness, let their ego walk in the door before they do, and have a natural talent for being a dick. But if we dare to be truly honest, most of us have fallen into the trap of being a lesser version of ourselves. Who hasn't walked away from a situation with regret biting at your heels, saying to yourself something along the lines of, ‘What was I thinking?’ or ‘Why did I say that?’ or (my personal favourite) ‘Why did I have to be such a dick?’

Throughout the book I'll talk a lot about being a ‘remarkable’ colleague, leader, person and friend. So what is ‘remarkable’? It is most often used to mean extraordinary, exceptional, amazing, wonderful or sensational. Getting to this level often seems near impossible. Being remarkable 100 per cent of the time is impossible. We just need to ask our spouse, parents, kids or close friends to know this is true. Aiming ...