Feedback

I asked my core team for feedback on the team and for me…

The good news are that we are aligned on the decision of a big development and people complimented on my fast learning/ progress, not afraid to reach-out, and presentation. They recognized it’s hard to lead the largest, rapidly changed initiative with most attention, to manage expectations and resource constraints, align various parties, and understand the complexity while being able to tell a simple and compelling story to all stake holders.

2 areas to think about: First is to streamline the communication, especially the email. My boss commented that I have a mixed style of ‘personal, technical, east/ west, detailed’ (what a mouthful, it shall not take others as much ‘effort’ to read my email). I asked what good writing looks like. He suggested me to look at how journalists write in top newspapers: indicating the purpose in the first sentence, structured body in bullet points, and closing with ‘call-for-action’.

I looked into ‘email writing’ tips over the weekend and decided to read an article a day in top newspaper to observe and learn. I also talked with my roommate who is a consultant at a top firm. His approach: first sentence call-for-action, body in bullet points with selective bolding to highlight, and closing with appreciation (or plan B action). He also stated the importance of email subject, he uses ‘action – project name – subject (purpose)’. It makes a lot of sense and I’ll practice forward.

Second comment that I’m a bit too nice and polite, I said thank you and compliment people too much…for some people, they feel it’s their ‘duty’ (no big deal), for others, they may be suspicious of the motive. I’m surprised to hear this, I’m naturally enthusiastic and easily making friends; I’ve never thought it could be interpreted differently. Also, don’t people want to be appreciated and recognized? I’m not sure what or if I shall do anything yet I appreciate the feedback. The perception and intention can be very different. I’ll think of how to manage being personal and credible at the same time.