Source: Farnham Street, Feb 2016
There are at least three different kinds of feedback that may be appropriate in a given situation:
- APPRECIATION is expression of gratitude or approval of another’s effort. It is an expression of emotion, designed to meet an emotional need.
- ADVICE (or COACHING) consists of suggestions about particular behavior that should be repeated or changed. It focuses on the performance, rather than judging the person.
- EVALUATION is ranking the subject’s performance in relation to that of others or against an explicit or implicit set of standards.
The habit you want to develop is to know your purposes when you offer feedback, and to make your comments in a form appropriate to accomplishing that purpose.
a few specific ways we can go about separating the various methods of feedback and using them more judiciously.
1. Express Appreciation to Motivate
2. Offer Advice to Improve Performance
3. Evaluate Only When Needed
4. Take the First Fall