3 Tips for Delivering Feedback

To make sure your message gets across in the way you intend, pay attention to a few key nonverbal skills.

Considering most people want to do good work and meet expectations, delivering constructive feedback sure can feel like picking your way through a minefield of misunderstanding, hurt feelings, defensiveness, and conflict.

And with anxiety and depression rates still exceeding pre-covid numbers, I’ve heard from several coaching clients and workshop participants that their employees are more easily discouraged and offended … and more willing to walk off the job if they hear something they don’t like. As a leader, this can put you in a bind.

There’s an art to telling people they aren’t measuring up in a way they can actually hear and use! Thankfully, a quick google search will bring up zillions of useful articles on the topic, most of which include suggestions like this (I mean, I’m assuming — I haven’t read them all):

Create safety and trust. All difficult conversations go better when you lay a foundation of open communication, clear expectations, positive feedback, and appreciation.

Be specific and clear. Do not embellish, sugarcoat, or avoid the truth. Be straightforward. As Diane Musho Hamilton writes, “Speak with kind confidence.”