The Importance of Effective Feedback

effective-feedback-and-communications

One of the many things that are great about the Self Awareness diagnostic is that it can instantly provide accurate, objective feedback. The participant taking the diagnostic and the organisation we are administrating the diagnostic for can receive reports delivered and tailored by the software’s sophisticated algorithms. This is extremely useful. Particularly when working with large groups of people, where you need to be efficient, act professionally, and simultaneously build on your organisation's reputation.

Delivering effective feedback is highly underestimated as a skill and can quickly help create high-performing individuals, teams, coaches, and trainers. It is a skill that allows you to solidify relationships by building trust and respect.

Without appropriate and timely feedback, others are forced to make assumptions about how they are perceived which can quickly culminate in conflict and misunderstanding. The purpose of offering feedback is to help people change by reinforcing positive or improving negative behaviours.

Here are our 8 tips on delivering effective feedback:

  1. Be clear and specific about the behaviour, the results and the intended action.
  2. Set aside time and a place where you can talk to the person without interruptions.
  3. Actively involve the other person in the process.
  4. Describe the positive and negative consequences of the behaviour.  People usually react to positive reinforcements that detail how they are beneficial to both them as an individual and the people they work with. If you need to explain the negative consequences, try to do so objectively and without sounding like threats.
  5. Add depth to the situation by including your personal feelings.
  6. Avoid being abrasive or sarcastic - it only detracts from the goal of changing behaviours.
  7. Avoid meaningless feedback that has little or no value and can give the impression you are not interested.
  8. Focus on future actions and how they will be achieved.

Increasing the effectiveness of your feedback will enable you to increase your influence on those individuals receiving the feedback. Delivering honest, carefully constructed feedback will add depth to your relationship. The person receiving feedback will clearly understand your expectations and what actions they need to take to improve or sustain their performance.