How can you give specific feedback and avoid generalizations?

It helps ensure that the recipient understands exactly what they need to do to improve. Feedback that is too general or vague can be frustrating and unhelpful, as it doesn't provide clear guidance for improvement. On the other hand, specific feedback provides concrete examples and clear guidance for what the recipient needs to do differently. This makes it easier for the recipient to understand, remember, and act on the feedback.

In my experience, the value of right feedback at the right time is immense. One does not need to always please the other person with kind words. Before giving a constructive feedback to someone, I like to see if it is a one off instance or there is a pattern. If there is a pattern, then I like to follow the S-B-I model. SBI stands for Situation-Behavior-Impact, and it focuses on describing the specific situation, the behavior observed, and the impact it had. This model is designed to provide clear and actionable feedback and it is very effective in promoting a positive change. At the core, I like to keep in mind that giving and receiving feedback is not taken personally. If done correctly, it helps in building trust.

Specificity in feedback - why does it matter so much? Imagine you're a chef and someone tells you, "Make this dish better." That's vague, right? Now, if they said, "The dish needs a bit more salt," you've got something concrete to work with. That's the power of specific feedback. In any creative or professional endeavor, be it coding, writing, or designing, general feedback might as well be no feedback. It's like shooting in the dark. Specific feedback, however, is like a guiding light. It pinpoints exactly what's working and what's not, making improvement not just possible, but straightforward.

3 words: Criticism, Context, and Constructivism. Specific code review feedback involves three key principles: Criticism to pinpoint areas of improvement, Context to explain the rationale behind suggestions, and Constructivism to provide actionable solutions. By combining these elements, the feedback becomes not only specific but also valuable, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented development environment.

Giving specific feedback helps to gain clarity and leads the mentee in a well defined path rather being confused with plethora of opportunities or options. General recommendations put the audience in further confusion and doesn't help in any useful career suggestion.

When providing specific feedback, focus on being clear, constructive, and actionable. Start with positive aspects to create a balanced tone. Clearly identify the behavior or work you're addressing, and use specific examples to illustrate your points. Be specific about the impact of the behavior or work on the project or team. Offer suggestions for improvement and provide guidance on how to implement those changes. Use a collaborative tone, emphasizing growth and development rather than criticism. Ensure your feedback is timely and delivered in a private setting to maintain professionalism. Encourage open communication and be receptive to the recipient's perspective.

Specific feedback when given as growth area is very impactful, it should be forward looking rather than pointing the mistakes directly. It’s important to let individual know what is expected or ideal to have than just tell what was not supposed to be done.

One of my favorite models for feedback delivery is the SBI Model. It includes a 3-step framework of identifying the situation, describing the behavior, and stating the impact. However, there is no one-size-fits-all method and you should research the various models and frameworks to identify which one works best for you, the situation, and the person you are providing the feedback to.

“No offense but”… (kidding) I have found analogies work well. Often better than trying to be specific to the subject at hand. In my experience the subject at hand is often meet with more resistance… as if questioning one’s expertise. So I try to find relatable (more like understandable) subjects. Depending on the audience I find more success with cooking, painting houses, landscaping and sports analogies. Usually the audience “gets it” even if they are not experts or good at any of them… within each I express my own humbleness…