7 Top Tips for Providing Effective Feedback

One area i'm super passionate about, in fact probably the thing i'm known best for is Courageous Conversations. I work with Leaders, Organisations and Teams to teach them how to have tough conversations using our unique framework. Did you know that a tough conversations is avoided every 7 minutes (and then 14minutes, then 21... you get the gist). A key component of teams who have healthy communication (engagement and productivity) is the regularity and quality of feedback. Here's 7 top tips for giving effective feedback. 1. Make it timely It’s important to give feedback as soon after the event as possible. This way, the person can receive the information while it’s still relevant and fresh in their mind. If you wait too long, they may have already forgotten about what happened or may have moved on to other projects. 2. Make it specific It’s important to be specific when giving feedback. This way, the person knows exactly what they need to work on and can take concrete steps to improve. For example, instead of saying "you did a great job on that presentation," try "you did a great job on that presentation, I especially liked how you used humor to engage the audience." 3. Make it objective When giving feedback, it’s important to remain objective and avoid making value judgments. For example, instead of saying "you’re lazy," try "I noticed that you didn’t take the time to proofread your report before you submitted it." 4. Make it actionable The best feedback is actionable, meaning that it provides specific information that the person can use to improve their performance in the future. For example, instead of saying "you need to be more organized," try "in the future, please submit your reports at least 24 hours in advance so I have time to review them." 5. Make it positive It’s important to focus on the positive when giving feedback. This doesn’t mean sugarcoating things or avoiding criticism altogether – it just means framing things in a way that is constructive and helpful. For example, instead of saying "you did a terrible job on that project," try "next time, I think it would be helpful if you consult with me before starting the project so we can develop a plan together." 6. Avoid using "I" statements When giving feedback, avoid using "I" statements such as "I think you should…" or "I feel like you should…" This can come across as confrontational or bossy. Instead, use neutral language such as "it would be helpful if…" or "maybe you could try…" 7. Avoid using absolutes When giving feedback, avoid using absolutes such as "always" or "never." For example, instead of saying "you always forget to proofread your reports before submitting them," try "I noticed that you didn't proofread your report before submitting it this time." Bonus tip Get a handle on the Itty Bitty Committee that can sometime prevent you from giving effective feedback.

Being able to give effective feedback is paramount to the development of your team. I'd love to know, what do you find the hardest part about giving feedback?

Until next time, Eat the Frog, Get the Bird, Be the Worm, and SOAR!!!