In business giving and receiving feedback, and knowing how to make this an effective process, is vital. When it is sincerely delivered, specific and supportive, feedback helps us to identify previously unseen areas for development, to introduce new ideas and to encourage people to embrace challenging goals. Conversely, feedback that is insincere or overly critical can demotivate and disenfranchise, which can damage and even destroy relationships.
Given how far-reaching the impact of feedback can be (both negative and positive) let me share some simple yet profound principles that will help transform your approach to feedback at work and elsewhere, writes Simon Day from Toastmasters International.
FAST is a helpful acronym. You need each of these four cornerstones for effective feedback:
- From the heart
- Actionable
- Specific
- Timely
From the Heart
Nobody will give a second thought to any recommendation unless they feel the one delivering it cares about them. Empathy is at the root of all meaningful human communication; as soon as we show a genuine interest in the welfare of another person and are motivated by a desire to see them succeed, we open the door to another person’s life.
Giving feedback
When I have been sitting across a table from someone delivering feedback and felt genuine care and concern on their part, their feedback is powerful, even life-changing. The exchange has always begun with questions regarding wellbeing, then the feedback has been tactfully adapted to what I might have been able to absorb based on current skill, experience and emotional levels.
The first question to ask yourself when giving feedback is this: “Is care being shown?” Ask yourself, “Do I really care about this individual as an individual – their progression, welfare, hopes and aspirations? If this question cannot be answered with an honest ‘yes’, it is the wrong time – or you are the wrong person – to deliver feedback.
Receiving feedback
If you’re receiving feedback, immediately ask yourself that same question: “Is care being shown?”. If the answer feels like a ‘no’, then that feedback should be taken with a pinch (or more!) of salt. If there are valid statements or recommendations, then take them on board. However, any statements that are overly critical or appear insincere should not be taken personally; the damage of allowing negative feedback to fester can be irreparable.
Remember the deliverer is also a person. Be kind. Don’t be confrontational. You don’t have to agree with everything. Take something that you can act on and politely discard anything that is unhelpful. Do not let one ill-worded comment rob you of your mental and emotional wellbeing. It is just not worth it.
Actionable
We all get to a point where our own skills, knowledge and experience have been exhausted. At this moment, we want someone wiser, more experienced and more skilful to step in and say: “I can see you’re struggling with this. You’ve done brilliantly to get this far. When I was in this position, here is what I learned … I suggest you try the following…”.
When teaching, my feedback to students is broken into three distinct parts. First, I always offer praise on something they’re doing well. This brings a feeling of pride to the individual and opens them up to receive any subsequent advice. Secondly, I suggest an area of focus, something they need to do to move the work forward. For example: “Congratulations on using some excellent descriptive language in this piece of writing. To move forward, we need to make sure your use of punctuation becomes more controlled and secure”. Good feedback, right? No! It is not actionable. It is missing the third – and most vital – element.
The third part of the feedback is the challenge. This is the invitation to act, to implement, to practise. After offering the above feedback to a student, my challenge might be as follows: “Add a further paragraph to your story. Highlight all of the commas and full stops you are using to show that you are remembering to include them in your sentences.” That’s much more like it! That will drive forward the progress of the student’s writing and hold them accountable for implementing the feedback given.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all feedback given was broken into those three elements: praise, recommendation and challenge? That sort of feedback meets the first and second cornerstones. It comes from the heart, shows genuine care and can be acted upon. Too much of the feedback passed between colleagues, families and partners lacks one of these two cornerstones: either it lacks empathy or it can’t be implemented. Only with both parts fulfilled can feedback spark meaningful change.
Specific
The feedback that lacks specificity also lacks power. If the individual giving the feedback is not specific, they undermine their own credibility and professed expertise, robbing the recipient of an opportunity to grow. Generalised feedback shows a lack of due care, preparation and is not actionable, so fails to meet all three cornerstones.
Many people talk about the ‘praise sandwich’. You offer praise, give suggested improvements and end with more praise. As mentioned, when I offer feedback to students, I do so in three parts: praise, recommendation and challenge. Whilst the ‘praise sandwich’ structure might boost the confidence of someone in the earliest stages of development, it eventually becomes a disservice as it gives a false impression of progress and can erode trust.
As long as the feedback is delivered empathically and with a clear path to progress, there is no rule for the ratio of praise to recommendations. The sincerity of the one delivering the feedback is always more critical than how the points are structured, but any recommendations must show sincere desire to help the individual and be accompanied by specific strategies or actions that can be implemented.
For example, imagine someone telling someone else: “As you have said you would like to improve your accounting skills, I recommend you go to an evening class.” This is actionable, but not specific. If that same person said, “I recommend X College. They have a regular accounting class every Wednesday evening at 7pm and you can pop in to discuss how they can meet your needs before you book.” then that changes everything. Specificity is the key to progress because it empowers the other person to act.
Timely
The more time that elapses between the events occurring and feedback being received, the less impact it will have. Timeliness is key.
Actions speak louder than words. If time is agreed for feedback and the person delivering it runs over in a previous meeting, arrives late or does not show up at all, what is really being said? “You are not my most important priority.” Timely feedback is more likely to show empathy and retain sufficient coverage to be both specific and actionable, thus meeting the other cornerstones. If it is late or rushed, it is at best likely to lack sufficient detail or sensitivity to have any real impact.
If you are delivering feedback, be prompt. If you are receiving it, turn up on time and be prepared to chase up someone – even if they are senior – when feedback is not being received promptly.
Finally
As a business owner or supervisor of a team, you can give valuable support and guidance. By giving effective feedback not only will you be doing the best for your business today, but you may also well be helping to develop the business owners and leaders of the future. Think FAST, every time you prepare to give or indeed, receive feedback.
More dealing with feedback from customers and giving feedback to difficult employees.
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