Why Learning to Give Productive Feedback for Managers Is a Game-Changer
Providing feedback is not a ‘check-the-box’ activity. It’s a critical activity for managers to help individuals and teams perform at their best.
It can be a dreaded conversation, especially for new managers. When done well, giving meaningful feedback can not only improve performance, but also build trust and strengthen relationships.
I wonder… have you ever received feedback about something that helped you improve your work, be a better coworker, or even a better human? Then you know how important it is to receive feedback.
Impact Matters
An important aspect of feedback is explaining the impact of the undesired behavior. For example, if someone is consistently missing deadlines, the impact may be that the client is not getting the results promised in the contract. The impact of that is a decreased level of trust from this long-standing client. And the domino effect of that lowered trust is that they don’t renew their contract. Ouch.
The statement, “We need to get this done on time” is not as effective as, “When we submit reports late to the client, it lowers their trust. If that trust diminishes, we risk losing this long-standing client and X% of our revenue”. Stating the impact of the impact makes a more compelling statement.
Tone Matters
As you know, it’s important to pay attention to *how* you say something, not just the words you use. For instance, a supportive tone that conveys genuine belief in the person’s desire to do their best work tends to yield more positive results than a tone that suggest, “We’ve been over this 100 times”, which sounds like a jerk.
Words Matter
In a fast-paced work environment, it’s tempting to say the first words that come to mind. However, taking just a couple of minutes to choose productive words is well worth it. Focusing on desired actions and behaviors shifts the conversation from blame to future results.
Additional Reading:
Leading Difficult Conversations
What’s missing in feedback conversations
Contact me to bring “Providing Meaningful Feedback” to your company.
