Giving negative feedback is never fun. As a manager or supervisor, it can be difficult to give someone honest feedback without it feeling personal. At the end of the day, you want to be as honest and sincere as you can be with your staff. Here are some ways to help you give negative feedback in a more constructive manner.
Always Be Honest and Sincere
A little bit of honesty and sincerity go a long way. The feedback won’t likely come as a surprise. People know when they are underperforming on the job. Don’t try to place blame during the conversation. Instead, focus on discussing how the situation can be improved.
You also need to be as direct and clear as possible. If the person leaves the meeting wondering what happened or where they stand with their job, you haven’t provided effective feedback.
Forget the ‘Compliment Sandwich’
Many people have heard that you need to give negative feedback with positive feedback. While this “compliment sandwich” of good/bad/good feedback may be popular, it can actually send mixed messages about the employee’s performance.
You want the negative feedback to be heard and taken into consideration. Adding two positive pieces of feedback may make them feel like they can ignore the one bad thing, even though that is why you were providing them with feedback in the first place.
Be Constructive With What You Say
Giving negative feedback isn’t fun for anyone involved. So, it is best to be constructive with your criticism. Offer the person some advice on how they might be able to avoid similar problems in the future or how they can improve. For example, if an employee is regularly late, you might suggest they better manage their tasks in the morning so they can make it on time.
You Have to Follow Up
Follow-up is necessary when it comes to giving feedback. You can’t bring up a problem and never address it again. Set regular meetings for when you will check in about the subject. You can provide guidance on how to improve and get confirmation on the steps they are taking to fix the issue.
Encourage Self-Reflection
Talk to the person about how they can reflect on their own duties. Ask them why they think the problems with their work. It is possible that you don’t have a big picture view of what was going on. Their actions could be well-warranted or they may be able to identify the error in their ways. Either way, self-reflecting can help everyone better understand what led to the negative feedback, to begin with.
Take Time to Listen
Don’t forget to stop and listen to the person you are providing feedback to. If you talk too much, you may lose a chance to understand their position. So, listen to what they have to say and take it into consideration.
Maintaining a good system for giving and receiving feedback is only part of the puzzle. You need to be sure you have the right staff on your side, to begin with. That’s where PrideStaff Northern Kentucky comes in. Contact us to learn more about our recruiting services and how we can assist you.
Leave a Reply