4. Try the 10/10 Technique. First, identify something you want to improve – say leading a meeting, delegating, listening, or conducting a one on one. Then, at the end of an interaction with someone, (it only takes about 10 minutes), ask the question: “On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate my listening skills?” Usually the answer is not a perfect 10, because you already know it’s something you need to get better at. If it’s anything less than 10, ask the follow-up question: “What would I need to do for you to rate me a 10?”
It works well because it gives you very specific ideas for improvement, in terms of what’s important to the other person. It opens up dialog in a non-threatening way, builds trust, and creates a win-win developmental partnership.