What do you do if an employee reacts strongly to feedback?
When an employee reacts strongly to feedback, it can be a challenging situation. As a manager, your role is to maintain a professional environment while ensuring that the feedback process is constructive. It's important to acknowledge the employee's feelings without dismissing them, but also to reiterate the purpose of the feedback. Offer a break if needed to allow emotions to settle, and suggest a follow-up meeting to discuss the feedback further once the initial reaction has passed. This approach helps to de-escalate the situation and reinforces that the intent of feedback is to support the employee's growth and development.
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Acknowledge emotions first:If an employee reacts strongly to feedback, start by recognizing their feelings and offer a break if needed. This helps de-escalate the situation and shows you value their emotional well-being.### *Clarify your intentions:Explain that the feedback aims to support their professional growth, not to criticize personally. Clear communication can help them understand the context and reduce defensiveness.