INTERVIEW SPOTLIGHT NFL Quarterback Peyton Manning On Giving and Taking Feedback. Visit Peyton's Site           YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS WANTED: What do you think about this site? How can we improve?

Indianapolis Colt's quarterback and former University of Tennessee All-American, Peyton Manning, shares his thoughts on the importance of feedback and how to both give and take it.. "The thin line between success and failure is so fine that often people don't know when they've passed it. Personally, I have to believe that with a little more effort, what was a miserable failure might turn into a wonderful success." -- Peyton Manning SMC: Feedback is hard to take. How do you deal with it? PM: It's critical to be able to take constructive criticism. When you mess up in a game, your coaches, the media, and fans will tell you. If you don't accept it, there's a problem. When you disagree with the coach, discuss it behind closed doors. But, at the same time, it's important to give feedback. Athletes need to be open with their coaches and teammates. SMC: What's most difficult about communicating as a leader? PM: I think the hardest part is understanding different personalities and how best to get through to them. Some people are less sensitive and you can talk to them about problems out in the open. Other people need to be taken aside and the issues discussed with them in a private more low-key manner. Another aspect that's difficult is "weathering the storm." Let's say that a receiver runs the wrong route and I throw the ball in the wrong direction, the coach gets all over him and if I do too, the reciever gets down which is counter productive. I have to find a different way and time to get through to him so he can stay focussed during the game. SMC: How can your teammates best communicate with you? PM: I have to be easily approachable. For starters, I've found the best way is for me to be proactive and approach a lot of people. In college talk to the red-shirted freshman or ball boy. The openness helps a team perform better on gameday. Spending time off the field helps, but doesn't always win the game. Being friends helps if you want someone to go into battle for you but you don't have to like one another.  You do have to respect each other to win. But you can't rush respect, you must earn it over a period to time. SMC: How do you gain respect and authority from your teammates? PM: Show your teammates that you're a hard worker and you know what you're doing and they'll respect you. Don't talk too much. Say less and they'll listen better. SMC: How important is the player/coach relationship to a quarterback? Why? PM: It's very important to have a strong relationship with the coach. You're going to war for him or her so you better respect one another.  That's the main thing.