No, not that word!
I have another “F” word that will change your life. It has mine. I learned it from a 9-year old girl several years ago.
I was facilitating a team building session for an elementary school in Philadelphia, PA. There were 300 kids, teachers, parents, and administrative folks packed into a gymnasium. I lead them through several interactive, team building activities touching on trust, leadership, self-esteem, and success.
After a particularly challenging activity, one of the participants brought up the subject of failure. People joined in immediately. Everybody started talking about their failures. The topic spread like wildfire.
Suddenly, this 9-year old girl raised her hand and said, “Mister, I am not allowed to use or say the word, “failure!” The crowd hushed. The silence was scary. Everyone looked at me and I had nothing to say.
Then she proceeded to say, “I am supposed to use another “F” word instead.” My face turned red. There was not a sound in the gym. No one knew what was coming. I could see the parents and teachers squirming in their seats. She quickly added, “My mom says I am supposed to use the word, “feedback,” instead of “failure.”
WOW! We all learned something that day. Especially me.
Not a day goes by in my Team Building Seminars where I don’t use that little girl’s
F word of Feedback!
Larry Lipman
Larry Lipman is a Success Coach specializing in TEAM BUILDING!
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