Structuring critical feedback for positive results: Seven tips for managers

You’ve acknowledged to yourself that you recoil from giving critical feedback to employees. Whether this stems from a desire to avoid workplace conflict, a lack of confidence in your communication style or concerns over doubting your opinion post-feedback, you would like to improve for your own sake, and for the sake of your employees. After all, they are relying on you as their manager to guide their work performance in order to succeed at their career goals. How to proceed?

Try ...

Avoiding giving critical feedback? Overcome the fear of conflict when managing people

When I have asked managers why they hesitate to give constructive feedback to their employees, I hear things like:

I’m worried she’ll get upset
I’m afraid to hurt our relationship
I don’t think he can take it and will argue
I don’t want to start a conflict

What do all of these excuses have in common? Fear.

We fear the other’s reaction. Notice how in each of these explanations, the burden is put on the other person. “She’ll get upset” or “she won’t be able to ...

Giving and receiving effective feedback

Giving and receiving effective feedback may mean giving up “Northwest Nice” to be present and authentic

I’m one of those people who can be a little smug about how awesome it is to live in the Northwest. We have gorgeous mountains, rivers, lakes, coastline, forests and great food. We place a premium on good relationships, which gives us strong communities. But just like everything has an upside, everything has a downside, too. Our preference for positive relationships can sometimes lead us ...