026: Giving and Receiving Feedback: A Critical Tenant of Leadership, with Michele Korfin

Giving and receiving feedback, as we know, is one of the core tenants of great Leadership, and it’s no different whether you’re a first-line manager or a C-Suite executive. In this episode I sit with Michele Korfin, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer for Gamida Cell Ltd., an advanced cell therapy company committed to finding cures for patients with blood cancers and serious blood diseases. Michele's career spans across 25 years holding leadership positions in sales, marketing, manufacturing, and as a pharmacist by training, other scientific positions. 

Key Takeaways:

Create a safe environment focused on three key areas of feedback:

1. Feedback on strategies, business objectives, and business planning
2. Feedback to others
3. Asking for feedback from your employees (And act on it!)

Best practices for giving feedback

• Take the time to invest in preparing for the discussion
• Start with open-ended questions 
• Conduct a "Dry Run" with a trusted partner to walk through the conversation
• Understand that there is a connection between giving feedback and Situational Leadership, and it applies at all levels of leadership

Leadership Resources:

• Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Suzanne Toren, et al.