For flights up to 10 hours’ duration, the FAA tolerates errors of no more than two nautical miles per hour of circular error on 95 percent of a plane’s flights. In other words, a pilot must keep the airplane within one nautical mile on each side of the intended flight path for 95 percent of the flight time… at 35,000 feet without the guidance of lanes and road signs. To stay within FAA regulations, pilots must constantly engage with Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCSs). But ATCSs are not providing pilots with feedback – they aren’t offering their reaction or response to a pilot’s process or activity. If they did, it might sound like, “Hi Pilot. I’m happy about how you navigated that weather pattern. But I’m worried that you’re veering a bit off track.” ACTSs don’t give feedback. They give information. They provide the requisite input pilots need to stay the course and reach their destination. Managers and Mentors are like Air Traffic Control Specialists. And like pilots, people don’t need feedback from their Manager or Mentor – they need a flow of information to ensure they don’t miss their destination… their goals! People crave specific, immediate, in-the-situation information. Certainly, people depend on information in the same way pilots do; without it, they are unsure if they are on course or not. And in practice, if Managers and Mentors contribute information regularly, people won’t fear receiving it, and Managers and Mentors won’t fear delivering it. The strategy? An intentional focus on giving and getting actionable information. For example: Managers and Mentors: “I have some information that will help you achieve your performance/learning goal.” Employees and Mentees: “I’m headed in this new direction. What information can you offer to help me get there?” By serving like ACTSs, we can provide the information people require, thereby replacing fear of feedback with the impetus for information.  © 2021. Ann Tardy and Mentor Lead. www.mentorlead.com |