Giving negative feedback is challenging and stressful. You will learn the mindsets, do’s & don’ts, and frameworks to help you give negative feedback effectively. Be constructive. Don’t make it a surprise, don’t joke around, don’t threaten the person. Be empathetic (compliment in public, criticize in private), be objective and professional, and LISTEN. Make sure that the feedback is S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic and Timely. Avoid the “Poop Sandwich,” and try the Start-Continue-Stop framework.

SHOWNOTES

Contents

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Key Learnings (one-pager) on “How to Give Negative Feedback”

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References & Links

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Podcast Transcript

“How to Give Negative Feedback”

Tips for when you are preparing and delivering negative feedback:

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Mindset

* We need to adopt a constructive Our mindset when we’re planning and delivering negative feedback should be all about construction, as in building and creating.

* We want the employee to thrive and excel

* Our sole intention is helping them.

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Don’ts

* Don’t make it a surprise

* Don’t joke around

* Don’t threaten the person

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Do’s

* Be empathetic. For starters, compliment in public, criticize in private.

* Be objective and professional

* Listen. This one is often forgotten. We must listen.

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Frameworks

* The SMART framework – make sure that the feedback is specific, measurable, action oriented, realistic and timely.

* The feedback needs to be (and be perceived as) valid & important  Valid as in undeniably true.  And Important and in important to the employee and important to the firm. 

* Avoid the poop sandwich, also called “the feedback sandwich.” You know, the good, bad, good

* Try the Start-Continue-Stop (or traffic light) framework. You’ve assessed their performance and identified things that they should start doing, things that they should continue doing, and things that they should stop doing – all things that will help them advance to the next level.

References & Links

BOOKS

* “FEEDBACK (and other dirty words): Why we fear it, how to fix it” by Tamra Chandler – https://amzn.to/2O4eHTk

* “HBR Guide to Delivering Effective feedback” Harvard Business School Press – https://amzn.to/307UzXX

SOURCES

* “The Feedback Fallacy” – HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW – https://hbr.org/2019/03/the-feedback-fallacy

* “Seven Ways to Effective Feedback” – Grant Wiggins, FEEDBACK FOR LEARNING – http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept12/vol70/num01/Seven-Keys-to-Effective-Feedback.aspx

* “Why the Velvet Hammer is a better way to give constructive criticism” – FAST COMPANY – https://www.fastcompany.com/90319581/why-the-velvet-hammer-is-a-better-way-to-give-constructive-criticism

* “The Better Way to Deal with Criticism at Work” – GLOBE & MAIL – https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/management/article-the-better-way-to-deal-with-criticism-at-work/