Is Your Feedback Making a Difference?

Giving productive feedback is one of the most valuable skills a

business owner and/or manager can possess. It provides your
new and existing staff an important observers’ insight into how
they are progressing. However, if executed poorly, it can
rebound on the employee and create apprehension and unease.
They can feel belittled and feel insignificant to the bigger
picture and consequently, less motivated.

To avoid this, follow these 5 steps:

1. SECURITY.
During a study at Columbia University New York, they
discovered that only about 30% of feedback is taken on board
by the person who receives it. So how you present your
feedback is almost as important as the feedback itself. The
more the person understands and becomes aware, the greater
the chance of change.

To avoid making the employee feel idiotic, don’t use a

disrespectful or intellectual tone or language. Make what you
are saying to them clear and simple.

2. ENCOURAGEMENT.
Providing feedback isn’t just clarifying the things that people are
doing wrong, it is also vital to highlight what they do great at as
well. If you start by expressing positive feedback, i.e. what they
are doing well at, this will trigger and ignite certain areas in the
brain, which will make that person more open and accepting to
a new way of thinking (i.e. changing what they are doing
wrong). Then finish off with some more positive things or simply
reinforce what you stated could be improved upon before to
boost your employees confidence back up.

“People have a habit of becoming what you encourage, not

what you nag them to be” – Scudder N. Parker

3. PROVIDE SOLUTIONS.
When conveying the negative aspects of their work, always
provide them with a solution to the problem that you have just
put forth, or aid them in finding the solution for them.
By giving them or helping them find the answer, the person in
question won’t feel so singled out or embarrassed.

4. INSTANTANEOUS.
There is no point in waiting to provide feedback. If someone did
something 3 months ago, what good will it do if you are only
recognising it now? Will anyone care? It’s been scientifically
proven that adult brains learn best in action. Don’t be afraid to
give feedback straight way or as they are completing a task.

5. FIRM AND FRIENDLY.

Creating the balance of being firm but friendly is difficult in the
beginning but a great tool to have in your pocket. Make sure
both you and the person both understand what you expect
from them, without being rude or demanding.

RosterElf.
Magically Simple Employee Scheduling Software.

Visit www.rosterelf.com for your free trial today!