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Today, I want to explore the concept of ‘giving face‘ and how it can improve communication and productivity in the workplace. Essentially, this term means showing respect, honor, or admiration towards someone in a way that maintains their dignity and reputation.

There are many ways to give face, but I want to highlight one specific approach here:

Instead of reminding someone of what they ‘failed’ to do, try to remind them of something they may have ‘overlooked’. In my experience, this is a more productive way to approach most people.

For example, instead of saying

“You failed to include this important information in your report,” you could say

“You must have overlooked including this important piece of information in your report.“

This approach gives the benefit of the doubt, especially if it’s not a recurring mistake.

Remember, the goal of a coach-like approach to leadership is to create a safe environment that allows people to learn, grow, and work WITH your feedback, rather than against it. The opposite of ‘giving face’ is humiliation, which can easily trigger defensiveness and hurt egos, especially in public settings.

I hope you have a productive and honoring week ahead!

Maik