Feedback That Motivates

Giving good feedback is tough – it takes some practice. We don’t want to hurt feelings, create resentment or demotivate our colleagues. Yet there are ways to provide constructive feedback that can motivate and inspire others. Really, you ask? Read on ….

Provide positive feedback when it is warranted! Very often, because of the pace of our work lives, we fail to take advantage of those micro-wins to acknowledge our colleagues for their successes. This is so important! You know how you feel when you receive positive feedback…we feel good, confident, ready to take on the next challenge. This is often a missed opportunity – so make a sticky and remember to do this often!

Create a feedback culture! Be a role model and show others how valuable feedback can be. Expect others to provide feedback to their colleagues. Have on-going conversations with your team members to acknowledge successes and identify development opportunities.

Make it a two-way conversation! Within an organizational context, one individual is rarely the cause of a failure. Each individual is part of an interconnected network – made up of people, processes and technology. There may be multiple fault-points that need to be addressed.

Be specific! Ask your colleague what might have made things work smoother. They are likely to know where they dropped the ball. If they don’t, you need to tell them.

Move on! No need to continually dwell on a mistake; however, it occurs again you must address it promptly.