Giving Feedback

Providing feedback is one of the most valuable and helpful things you can do for your coworkers. It doesn't necessarily require a complicated process either. All it takes is a few minutes to identify what could be better, and how it could be improved.

In this post, you'll find out how to provide feedback that sounds less like criticism and more like an actual solution. I'll also be describing a few different ways to provide feedback, so you can find one that suits your needs and style. With practice, giving feedback will become easier and you'll get better results from your employees. You'll also start to see an increase in your own confidence and feel more empowered as leaders.

Providing feedback is about helping others learn and improve their performance. It shouldn't be about judging or punishing them for failing to do something right the first time round.

As soon as you view providing feedback as a negative experience, it becomes difficult to even start the conversation, never mind feel comfortable with what you have to say. One solution is to focus on what's working well. This will make it easier to provide constructive feedback. You can also actively encourage your employees to practice new skills or produce better results.

A great way to start a feedback session is with a quick question, like… "What can we do differently?" If they answer, you can ask them more questions, like… "How else could we have done this?". If they answer... well... that's the end of the conversation.

You might not get all the information you need straight away. It may take several attempts and iterations for everyone involved to be satisfied with the level of improvement. When you're giving feedback make sure you're giving it in a positive way and saying what could be improved. Don't say what's been done wrong, as that could sound like criticism. Instead, ask what could be better - for example, "What else could you have done?", or "How could this have been improved?". 

Giving feedback is a skill that can take time to master. It also requires an open mind and a willingness to learn from others. Keep an eye out for any comments you might be able to turn into more positive ones - think of these as opportunities rather than problems. Once you get into the habit of seeing feedback in a positive way, it gets easier and more natural.