WTF kind of feedback is that?

So I asked for feedback. I appreciate it. It makes what we do that much better. But how is it that some people can give you feedback and you feel as if you won the lottery and yet others scream it in your face like you can never do anything right?

To get ahead in the workplace, any workplace, you need to be able to give and get constructive feedback. I'm the first to admit that I am a tad sensitive and am not THAT good at receiving feedback. But I do ask for it (painful as it may be) and always, always appreciate it and use it to try and make improvements. Yesterday however I asked for feedback and it was given in the same way as a freight train, sledgehammer, cannon shot, bazooka, you get the picture. So I'd like to offer some feedback on how to give feedback.

1/ Always start with positive feedback. If you don't tell someone their work or behavior is good however are they supposed to know?
2/ Ask what it is they are trying to accomplish and what message they are trying to convey.
3/ Give them your perspective as an outsider, NOT a know-it-all.
4/ Do not tell the recipient 5 or even 1 story from your past and how it relates to what they are doing. BORING!
5/ Suggest they also obtain feedback from others. 2 heads are better than 1, 3 are better than 2, you get the picture.
6/ Lighten up for F**ks sake. Don't be so serious. More boring.
7/ End the discussion by summarizing the feedback including the positive. I guarantee you will be sought out again.
8/ Now go for a nice cold corona. Giving good feedback is a tough job and you need to treat yourself.

Something to ponder: Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won't have time to make them all yourself. ~Alfred Sheinwold

Too much work!

What is it that makes us work like dogs for our employers? Why do we come in early, stay late, sit at our desk during our lunch, spend all of our time making sure that everyone else gets what they need? What about our needs?

Wouldn't it be nice if our employers, and I'm not talking about our direct leaders, I'm talking about senior management, came to see us, shake our hands, give us a pat on the back and tell us they appreciate our hard work and tell us what a great job we are doing?

I don't care so much for the title, the money, the odd free day off, I'm talking about the big cheese, coming to my desk, calling me by my name, and thanking me for working my ass off.

In honor of this rant, I have submitted a new definition to urban dictionary.com, I hope you like it:

Workover
Workover is when you have way too many projects all at the same time, you didn't have enough to eat as you were too busy working, and as a result you wake up feeling like you have a hangover even though you had nothing to drink. Being Workover is when the work makes you feel that way, not the booze.
"Man I could barely get out of bed today because I was sooooo Workover".

Something to ponder: Leadership is action, not position. ~Donald H. McGannon