The Cold Truth

Marisol Hernandez

February 14, 2016

Journal #5

    The Cold Truth

This week I learned that I like the “Sandwich approach” rather than direct feedback. I initially told everybody that I preferred direct but when I was reading my team evaluations some of the things written were a surprise. For example, one of my teammates said I complained a bit, when a small comment is said about our work it can demotivate my teammates. I was disappointed in myself because encouraging the heart is supposed to be my strength action plan. I want to focus on the remaining weeks in the term to make sure to support and appreciate my teammates for their contributions. I didn’t realize I was too focused on my weakness action plan and forgot to continue encouraging the heart. On the other hand, my team’s feedback process was difficult for our team. We all get along so well and have become friends that it was hard for us to give negative feedback face to face. I would often see us say a good comment after any negative comment said, not only am I a sandwich approach person but I think our team is as well.

        My leadership plan has helped me communicate to my team members on a shared vision and what we need to accomplish. Some of the feedback I received was that I am a doer and thinker, by giving my ideas on a common goal we are trying to meet and talking to others on how we can get there. My leadership development at work is making a lot of progress. My co-workers have said they feel more comfortable speaking up about what needs to get done. Not only that, but many have also said that they’ve been applying a shared vision to other shifts too. It has made their work environment efficient and there has been improvement on communication skills between each other. I noticed a communication pattern at my work; many of my co-workers use direct feedback. I think this actually works better for our environment than the sandwich approach because I work in dining services so there’s not much time to sugar coat things when you need things done quickly. No one takes offense to feedback because we know it is said only to improve ourselves.