Feedback Strategies

The first article I read as part of this week’s Feedback task was called How to Give Feedback Without Sounding Like a Jerk - https://heleo.com/adam-grant-give-bad-feedback-without-jerk/8968/
I chose this article first as I liked the title, sometimes when we have to give negative feedback we do sound like jerks, so I thought this would be a good article to read to find out how to give feedback in a nice way.  The first piece of information given to us is to use what’s know as a "compliment sandwich", put praise on either side of the criticism so that it is taken better. I think this is a good idea, but the writer goes on to say that this isn’t the best solution when wanting to give negative feedback. Instead we are given four options-

1. Explain why you’re giving the feedback.

2. Take yourself off a pedestal.

3. Ask if the person wants feedback.

4. Have a transparent dialogue, not a manipulative monologue.

These are all excellent tips and definitely are ones that I am going to try bring remember when giving positive or negative feedback. No one likes receiving or giving negative feedback but maybe with some of these helpful tips we will be able to give the feedback in a more constructive way.

The second article that I read was an article called, The Trouble with “Amazing”: Giving Praise that Matters - https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/the-trouble-with-amazing/
The woman speaks about being praised for doing amazing in a workout class, but she goes on to that by saying you are amazing, it feels like you are just saying it, it's like a pity praise. Jennifer also goes on to say how the word amazing can be unspecific,  it is a very vague compliment. Giving feedback by telling someone that they are amazing is also said to be praising the person and not the action. I never really thought of it this way but it makes sense.  This article definitely opened my eyes to the world of given feedback to others and how much thought needs to go into it before you give it as it could be taken in the wrong way or make the person feel confused.

 Do you feel confident about giving people useful feedback? 

Yes I do sometimes it really depends on the person you are giving the feedback to and if the feedback is positive or negative. No one liked giving someone negative feedback but if it is given in a sort of positive way or given as constructive criticism then I think I feel confident after giving people feedback. It feels like you are helping them and that you are doing good for giving them such feedback.

Do you have some strategies you can recommend? 

Not that I can think of but have definitely learned a lot today from these two articles! The only tip I would recommend is to throw a compliment in with the negative feedback. Start with what you love about it, give a but and then give the constructive feedback.

• I feel that I have learned a lot from these two articles on feedback and how to give it in the best possible way and I will certainly be bringing all that I’ve learned today to practice when I’m giving feedback this year.

Image Sourced Online- https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/90916486216234938/

Image Caption- The image is of a quote about feedback and it reads, 

"Feedback is just another learning tool."