Feedback is a Gift Embrace It with Adelina Chalmers

Mike speaks with Adelina Chalmers the founder of Geek Whisperers. She helps CTOs, Heads of Engineering, and others to improve team performance. In her 20s, Adelina stopped working in human rights organisations when she realised, she could help people far more by working in tech.

Her mission is to transform engineers and their leaders. To do that they both need to know how to give and take feedback. Something that we are socially and biologically engineered to struggle with. Adelina explains how to unpick that and use feedback to transform our performance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Those who work in tech have an incredibly powerful impact on people´s lives. The projects we work on really move the needle.
• Feedback is critical. Without it, nobody knows if they are doing a great job or not.
• Feedback is not a personal attack. Often, for biological and social reasons we see it that way, Adelina explains why and how to get past that feeling.
• Lean into feedback. Regardless of how you feel respond by saying “Tell me more” 
• Think of feedback on your performance as being like the feedback you get from customers when developing products.
• Remote feedback is more difficult. Adelina explains how to get around this.
• For feedback to work well, the two people need to trust each other and have a proper connection. Remote teams need some face-to-face time.
• Tell people in advance why you need to speak to them. Don´t blindside them.
• Coach first if that does not work give feedback. Remember constant negative feedback wears people down.

BEST MOMENTS

02:11 "Giving feedback and receiving feedback is effectively how we all grow." 

03:43 "When people ask for feedback, most people mean, please don´t hurt me, give me good feedback." 

29:03 "If you think about growing, by default, you have to make mistakes, learn from 

32:19 "My key tip would be to build a relationship of trust with this person." 

50:06 "Coach them every time they make a mistake. And if the coaching doesn't work, then you can move a gear up to feedback." 

1.00:00 "The business strategy tells you what you need to do with your tech strategy.”

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://www.geekwhisperer.co.uk/adelina-chalmers

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/alternative-st-sandwich-time-writing-adelina-chalmers

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals. 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to Mastering Tech Growth, where we dive deep into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of scaling tech-driven ventures. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of technology businesses, uncovering the secrets behind successful growth trajectories. Each episode brings you candid conversations with founders and industry experts, sharing invaluable insights, proven tactics, and real-life stories. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, discover the roadmap to navigating the complexities of scaling in the ever-evolving tech landscape.