For some reason, this is one of the hardest things for people to do in the work place. I am not entirely sure why, except to say that people either don’t know how to provide feedback to others, it can be very uncomfortable, or both.
Team members want feedback – both positive and constructive. But it has to be delivered in a timely manner and in a way that is specific enough so that people understand the behaviors that need to be changed.
Here’s a simple 3-step formula for providing your team members with feedback.
Situation – Impact – Input.
- Situation: Start by describing the situation and the behaviors that took place. Do not voice a conclusion or judge. Simply state the facts, the behavior, and be specific.
- Impact: Describe how the behavior affected you or how you perceive it affected others. Just state the facts, don’t get emotional.
- Input: Ask the person for suggestions on how he/she will change behavior, and then set a time to follow-up.