Held on 18 August 2022

The Art of the Reprimand

This is an exec member exclusive video.

Blackmail works depressingly well, especially when it's implicit. You don't truncate the interview with an unqualified candidate because you're afraid she'll write a bad Glassdoor review. You don't reject nonsense feature requests because you're afraid that key customer will churn. And you don't reprimand your team when they violate norms or policies because you're afraid they'll resent you or complain.

But negative feedback is arresting, dramatic, and creates productive conflict. I know of no more powerful cultural lever than a sharp, clear, brief reprimand that leaves no room for doubt; those I received in my career got my attention right quick, and changed me for the better. If you don't provide regular, unequivocal reprimands, you're leaving a key improvement tool on the table.

Join me to discuss techniques you can use immediately to:

Identify norm violations quickly and know whom to reprimand for maximum effect.
Keep your reprimands clear, impossible to misinterpret, and under 60 seconds (hat tip Blanchard!)
Use emotion effectively when giving feedback--as a useful signal, not a blunt weapon.