On the surface, giving feedback may sound easy.
This post originally appeared onThe Crew blog.
Being able to give great feedback is a fundamental skill of work.
So how come so many of us suck at it?
And how can we improve?
Negative vs.
Positive Feedback
It turns out that giving good, actionable feedback isnt a black and white process.
Another behavioral studyfound that too much praise doesnt improve performance either.
The trick is to find the right balance between positive and negative feedback.
Any negative feedback should be clear and timely yet not so harsh as to be perceived as criticism.
Here are six tips to help.
Be Specific
We all respond better when we receive specific feedback.
Unspecific feedback leads to delays and misunderstandings.
With concise, specific feedback things definitely move a lot smoother.
Be Immediate
The best feedback is immediate and comes while all the details are fresh in your mind.
To solve this problem, Ive started scheduling time in my calendar to provide feedback whenever its needed.
Tie Feedback to Goals
As filmmakerCasey Neistatfrequently says in his vlogs, without a goal you cant score.
This is especially true when it comes to feedback.
Without tying your feedback to a direct goal wires become crossed and the end goal gets lost.
This gives the receiver a clear goal to work towards and reason why youve given them this feedback.
Ensure Feedback Is Actionable
Just as important as tying feedback to goals, is ensuring its actionable.
Take this post for example.
It wasnt direct enough.
Jorys feedback was great and helped me to action his points.
Dont be afraid to make bold statements or say things directly.
Rather than saying X tends to cause Y to happen, say X causes Y.
It makes the post feel more authoritative and adds a bit more substance to it.
Use the Right Language
Language is the lifeblood of influencing behavior .
The right words can push someone to up their work levels and increase focus.
On the other hand, the wrong choice of words can have the opposite effect and hold up progress.
At animation studio Pixar, theyve found a way to solve this problem through a technique theyve branded plussing.
Plussing is a way to provide feedback and critique without creating fear or negative feelings.
The irony of this is that without giving feedback (negative or positive), you wont move anywhere.
If you dont go after what you want, youll never have it.
If you dont ask, the answers always no.
If you dont step forward, youre always in the same place.
Without good, quality feedback, team members and organizations arent in sync and arent performing at their best.
These six tips will help you to give better feedback.
The 6 Qualities of Good Feedback| Crew
Ash Readis a freelance social media strategist, community manager and writer.
Image byGraphicworldandBlueguy(Shutterstock).
