Five Rules for giving Effective and Balanced Feedback

Giving effective and balanced feedback is essential to allow your team members to grow and develop. We all need to hear what we did well and what improvements we can make.

Before giving feedback, consider the following five rules:

1. Feedback should be as specific as possible

When providing feedback, it is important you give examples of situations by clearly identifying what happened, actions taken and the result. Using the STAR method is a simple and effective way to provide feedback. Access the STAR method template here.

2. Feedback should be timely

Feedback is more effective when delivered close to the event because the situation, actions taken and outcomes are easily remembered.

3. Feedback should be regular

Good practice is to have regular one-on-ones with your team members to ensure the feedback provided is timely and relevant. Also, more frequent informal feedback ensures that nothing said during formal feedback sessions is unexpected.

4. Feedback should be about behaviours, not personality or character traits

Focus on the situation, actions taken and the result. For example, instead of saying “The mistake happened because you are lazy” say “The mistake happened because you did not follow the process”. By focusing on the behaviour, you can create an action plan to help them succeed in the future. For example, “To avoid the same mistake occurring again, let’s create a checklist to cover each step in the process.”

5. Finally, remember to pick your moment

You might be ready to give feedback but consider the state of the recipient. Are they in the best frame of mind to listen to the feedback you want to provide? Emotional intelligence is key here! To learn more about building your emotional intelligence, watch this webinar replay here. Note: webinar replay only available to premium members.

In summary, getting and giving good quality feedback means that we have an accurate idea of how we are progressing at work. Applying the five rules will help ensure good quality and balanced feedback is provided. Continue to be open to feedback, practise active listening and build your emotional intelligence for greater success at work.