Are You Too Direct at Work?

0:02Chevy is called the heartbeat of America for a reason. With SUVs made to move with your rhythm. The versatile Equinox tackles your entire day. The spacious Traverse fits your crew and your whole weekend. And tracks bring style with value you can count on. All infused with tech that has your back. So your drive always hits the right chord. Chevrolet. Together let's drive. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks.

0:45Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability varies 18+. Have you ever been told that you're too direct at work and you don't know what to do about it, I'm Uriel Wilkins, the host of the HBR podcast, Coaching Real Leaders. I am here to answer your toughest leadership questions in one minute or less. I'm a straight shooter, always have been. It's something I always thought was an asset, but lately I've been leading a new team and some of the feedback I've been getting sometimes through indirect channels is that I'm too direct and it's rubbing people the wrong way.

1:22What should I do? Well, first of all, I think it's great that you are owning up to the feedback in terms of facing it, right? You can't change what you can't face. One of the things that I think you need to start with is understanding that even though it may not be your intent to rub people the wrong way, that's the way you're showing up and that's the impact that you're having. You want to make sure that there's a closed gap between what your intent is and what your impact is. So in terms of understanding why it's rubbing people the wrong way, you may wanna circle back with a few folks, folks that you trust, folks that you think would feel safe sharing with you and say, listen, I got this feedback that I'm direct and it ends up rubbing people the wrong way.

2:02I'd love to understand what is it exactly that I'm doing that is rubbing people the wrong way or that make make people feel uncomfortable in my presence or whatever the adjective is. And then listen, don't get defensive. Don't try to explain it away. Just hear what they have to say and pick a few of their suggestions of what you could do differently and put them into action.

2:51look is dedicated to you. Thank you. Thank you.