In terms of managing upward, getting feedback from people junior to you can be tricky—you have to make the junior person feel comfortable sharing his/her thoughts.  The best way to do this is to propose a mutual feedback session—let him know you’re interested in hearing about how you’re doing and at the same time offer to share some feedback about his performance as well.  By making it mutual, you’ll in effect give your subordinate permission to think critically about how you are doing (because you’re doing the same for him).  As always, schedule the meeting in advance (don’t ever ask for feedback on the spot!) and let him know the specific areas you’d like feedback on.  Questions might center around: Did I give you enough direction to complete the assignment?  Was the timeline reasonable for you or do you need more help/time next time around?  What I can do to help you do a better job next time?

Excerpt from the Forte Foundation webinar: Sucessfully Navigating the Workplace: Communication Strategies for Women Leaders