Giving Feedback
The skill of providing constructive information to help others improve their performance.
Also known as: Providing feedback, Constructive criticism, Performance feedback
Category: Techniques
Tags: collaboration, feedbacks, communications, development, leadership
Explanation
Giving feedback effectively is a crucial skill that enables growth while maintaining relationships. Effective feedback is: specific (concrete examples rather than generalizations), timely (close to the behavior), behavior-focused (what someone did, not who they are), balanced (acknowledging strengths alongside growth areas), and actionable (clear path for improvement). The SBI model structures feedback around: Situation (when and where), Behavior (what you observed), and Impact (the effect it had). Kim Scott's Radical Candor advocates caring personally while challenging directly - avoiding both ruinous empathy (caring without challenging) and obnoxious aggression (challenging without caring). Common pitfalls include: sandwich feedback (insincere praise undermines criticism), vague feedback (leaves recipient confused), and delayed feedback (loses relevance). For knowledge workers, feedback-giving skill enables: developing others, maintaining high standards, and building trust through honest communication.
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