More often than not, when I’m with my dad at a hotel or restaurant, he asks to speak with the manager or chef. Then, he explains what he didn’t like and suggests how they might do better.
Some might think, “Why is he always complaining?”
He’s not.
Dad feels that most people lack high quality feedback, and so he sets out to offer it. His communications are generally positive and proactive, and 90% of the people he summon seem to sense that his intention is to be constructive, rather than critical.
This led me to a simple theory: it’s what’s in your heart that matters.
Minus his genuine desire to be helpful, my dad might come across as simply a disgruntled customer. But somehow almost everyone seems to understand that he is much more than that. For example, when we have dined several nights in a row at the same hotel restaurant, the chef will often come out on subsequent nights and solicit my dad’s opinion.
Manage your intentions with care, and you can deliver even frank feedback in an uplifting and empowering manner.