It's that time...full of good intentions, we set resolutions for the year ahead. We join a gym, tell our friends we're going 'to write that book', tell the scales we'll lose that weight and resolve to save a fortune. Great idea - in principle. In practice, most gym memberships lapse unused, most books remain [...]
Hello. Welcome to Feedback – and welcome to your job. If you manage people, giving feedback is almost certainly part of your job. Feedback can be positive – let’s use plain language and call it praise. And yes, some feedback can be negative, about behaviour that needs to be improved. I like to call this [...]
The notion that ‘Appraisals are over’ has been around for a couple of years now. They were ‘axed’, ‘scrapped’ (even ‘killed’), and employees would be ‘free’ thanks to Accenture’s announcement of their overhaul of performance reviews. After Accenture ditched appraisals, countless others followed and continue to do so. Very radical. The wonderfully acerbic response by [...]
Image: @SergeyNivens/DepositPhotos You’ve delegated a task to a colleague. They’ve been working on it without needing any help from you – or so it seemed. Finally, the time comes for you to review what they’ve done. Frankly, the work isn’t up to the standard required. What can you do? First of all, well [...]
Old-fashioned elementary school report cardImage: @jentara/DepositPhotos Did you ever get this comment in your school reports, “Must try harder.”? I certainly did. With the passing of time and the benefit of hindsight I appreciate the intent and feel less of a sting from the barb, but it can still bring back memories… I [...]
A question that often comes up when I facilitate workshops on effective feedback is that people seem to think there’s no-one to ask. After all, feedback isn’t just about giving other people constructive comments on their performance; we need feedback on our own. And the way of the world - or at least this part [...]
Image: @ anyaberkut/ DepositPhotos It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and I’ve already written a post about the psychological benefits and importance of reflective writing and journaling over on Zoomly’s blog. So what’s left to say that’s relevant for The Feedback Book? It’s one thing to pause for thought at the end of the [...]
One of the most important situations for giving - and getting - feedback about performance is before and after a training or coaching programme. As a manager, your involvement in supporting the learner in applying their new knowledge and skills is a major variable in whether or not learning sticks - or just slips away. [...]
Feedback. How do you feel when you read (or hear) that word? Thrilled at the prospect? Despondent at the @%*t sandwich you reckon will be headed your way? Curious and keen to learn more? And what about when giving feedback is a vital part of your job? Chances are if you manage people then giving [...]