How to Give Effective Feedback
Effective feedback is one of the most beneficial things you can bring to your relationships as a leader. But providing effective feedback is also one of the most challenging skills for leaders to develop. Giving feedback comes with risks that can lead to undesirable outcomes and negatively impact your work.
Misinterpretations could lead to an uncomfortable work environment along with decreased morale. You can't guarantee people will interpret the feedback you provide the way you're intending. There’s a lot at stake when giving and receiving feedback for leaders.
Delivering helpful and productive feedback can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Consider the benefits of being able to receive and provide effective feedback with the people around you. Leaders who develop these skills can effectively clear up misunderstandings, improve outcomes, and maintain healthy relationships with others.
As a leadership coach, I help my clients learn how to give and receive feedback effectively. While developing your communication skills takes time, here are some skills that you can use to help you start giving more effective feedback and improving your perspective on feedback that you receive.
How to Receive Feedback as a Leader
Receiving feedback can be almost as hard as giving it. And while being a leader means learning how to give effective feedback, it also means learning how to receive feedback.
Making mistakes, owning them, and working to improve is part of being a leader. But because we can’t fully see ourselves, it’s important for you to be able to receive feedback. Doing so promotes communication from the people around you and inspires confidence in your employees. After all, why should they have to listen to you if you won’t listen to them?
It’s easy to misinterpret the negative feedback you receive and become defensive or upset. While we often prepare ourselves to start difficult conversations, we may feel blindsided when we’re not initiating that conversation. Instead, try to reframe your mindset around the idea that their negative feedback can be extremely beneficial for you and your company. Respecting your employee’s opinions encourages them to respect you and your feedback.
Use the tips below to learn how to effectively receive feedback:
1. LISTEN
Instead of trying to interpret what someone is saying, hear them out. Listen to what the other person has to say instead of assuming what will be said right off the bat. You can absorb more information if you concentrate on listening instead of being defensive.
2. BE AWARE
Be aware of your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. These can interfere with the ability to have a meaningful and effective conversation with your employees. You could be sending a negative message if you look distracted or uninterested in what the other person has to say. Making eye contact and being attentive makes someone feel like you value their opinion.
3. BE OPEN
Be open to feedback and different opinions. Employees need a space where they feel comfortable sharing their great new ideas with you, but you won’t get to hear these great ideas if you aren’t open to them in the first place.
4. UNDERSTAND
Listen to make sure you understand the feedback, especially before you respond or utilize the offered critiques. Listen actively and ask questions if you need clarification.
5. FOLLOW UP
Following up means: If you agree with this blind spot, you can begin implementing the changes from the feedback and check in on your improvement. Sometimes we find ourselves on the receiving end of someone who is not skilled at giving feedback, and if you disagree with the input, you can choose not to implement changes. If you need more clarity, you can set up another meeting to discuss the feedback. Creating a leadership development plan can also help you use feedback effectively.
How to Effectively Give Feedback
There are numerous benefits of effective feedback, including growing the business, reducing errors, and strengthening trust between everyone around you. As a leader, it is your responsibility to make sure you provide effective feedback to your employees in a way that won’t cause miscommunications or frustration. Unfortunately, there isn’t any guide that specifically states every skill you need to do it. Over time and through experience, you'll learn the necessary skills to become a well-rounded communicator and how to have effective conversations.
To get started, here are some easy and effective feedback methods for leaders to learn:
1. BE CLEAR
Being clear with feedback reduces the possibility of misunderstandings. Feedback that is vague or abstract leaves room for interpretation. Determine what you want to gain from the feedback you provide, pick your words carefully, and be clear with your intentions.
2. FOCUS ON THE BEHAVIOR
Making comments about personality can cause someone to question their worth and abilities. If there is a perceived personal attack, they may become defensive, preventing a constructive conversation. By focusing on the behavior rather than the person, you can prevent misinterpretations through a coaching leadership style.
3. GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
Providing specific examples can help the recipient better comprehend what the feedback giver is trying to say. Without clear examples, someone might be confused about what needs to change. Examples make the feedback easier to understand and clarify the possible impact of not making these changes.
4. EXPLAIN THE IMPACTS
Knowing why to make a change is almost as important as knowing what changes to make. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to make sure the people around you know what changes need to be made. Someone will be more receptive to what you have to say if they also understand the impact of not making those suggested changes.
Develop Your Feedback Skills with Leadership Coaching
Delivering effective feedback is a skill that develops through time and experience. Working with a leadership coach can help you identify and work through any obstacles that prevent you from developing productive communication skills.
If you’re ready to learn how to give effective feedback, leadership development coaching may provide you with the right steps to take. I work to bring out the best in you so you can take on your role with a fresh new perspective and develop the skills you need to become a leader that is capable of giving and receiving feedback in a productive way.
Let’s talk. Contact us today to discuss what’s challenging you and how we can support you in navigating a path forward.