How to Give Feedback That Is Actually Helpful With Julian Cook

EntrepreneurshipHR TechnologyFuture of Work
Written By Naomi Haile
 

Listen to the episode on Spotify / iTunes / Castbox / Stitcher / Google Podcasts

Power of Why x Julian Cook (4).png

Listen to the episode on Spotify / iTunes / Castbox / Stitcher / Google Podcasts

Julian shared some of the important investments that he made into himself, which gave him the confidence to start a company and really tune into his why. Ultimately, this conversation is about how to create work environments where people can thrive.

Julian Cook is the co-founder and CEO of a London-based tech company called Howamigoing. They are on a mission to prevent 1 million people from having painful performance review processes. Julian and his team have developed an online platform that helps employees get better feedback, more often.

Howamigoing was voted in the UK's Top 100 Startups and in 2019 AND 2020, was also listed as a finalist in the Top 10 HR Tech Solution Providers in Europe. Prior to starting Howamigoing, Julian spent about seven years working in mergers & acquisitions at Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan and he also served as a fundraising committee member for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

Fun fact: Julian grew up in a small town in outback Australia.

This episode is for you if:

  • You want to learn how to give feedback without compromising your relationships

  • You want to understand why people avoid giving feedback at work

  • You are looking for intentional ways to create a delightful work environment

  • You are intrigued by workplace culture and want to learn how to inspire your team

  • You want to learn how to set up a short feedback process for your team – that works!

Looking for something specific? 

  • [7:42] The subconscious biases that we have and how it impacts our workplace cultures

  • [9:24] Broad comparison around feedback cultures at small and large organizations

  • [11:00] Enhance your feedback culture with Howamigoing so that “people can do better work, and be more motivated and more engaged and stay longer”

  • [11:08] 10 fatal things around feedback culture [you can download the e-book here].

  • [11:43] What does it mean to be trained in giving feedback?

  • [12:32] Fact/Feeling – when you need to give proper feedback. It’s always great to start with the Fact: what you saw or heard or the action/behaviour that somebody did and then follow with the Feeling, how that impact you or what was your subjective interpretation about that.

  • [18:00] Praise is one of the most unmet needs for employees is being unrecognized for their work – and it’s such a powerful motivator

  • [19:39] What behaviour are you reinforcing with praise?

  • [21:00] “It’s not about the hours you do at work, it’s about the energy that you bring to those hours”

  • [23:00] The importance of “quiet time” for knowledge workers

  • [31:25] Every three months, you can set up a very short feedback process for your employees with this, you are avoiding the typical convoluted process of giving feedback

  • [33:35] Julian’s backpacking trip across South America – why this was one of the best personal investments he made 

Connect with Julian

Connect with Naomi

 
Naomi Haile
Previous

Summary of 2021 Invest Ottawa Partnership with the Power of Why
Next

Time for a Change? How to Take Your Growth Into Your Own Hands with Mari Galloway