7 Tips For
Giving Positive Feedback
Giving positive
feedback is one of the more
enjoyable tasks in the workplace.
From the most senior to most junior,
regular appropriate praise can
enhance job satisfaction and boost
motivation.
But
just saying 'thanks', 'well done',
or 'great job' are throwaway
insincerities that can do more
damage than good, so here are 7 tips
for doing it well..
1. No Time Like Now
Feedback goes stale when left unsaid
too long, so give positive feedback
as close to the event as possible.
2. In Public and In Private
Praise in public, criticize in
private, that’s the rule. But before
you go singing a person’s praises
from the roof-tops, think about what
they would prefer. Public praise of
an extremely shy person may cause an
emotional response that overshadows
your good intentions. Do what’s
right for the person.
3. Practice Makes Perfect
It’s easy to overlook good work or
extra effort, so make it a habit to
praise regularly. Consider setting
up a formal reward and recognition
scheme that everyone understands and
can use.
4. Does the Reward Fit?
Keep the balloons and streamers for
special occasions. Going over the
top with rewards can be
mis-interpreted as “buying” favors.
Judge the amount of effort and
reward appropriately.
5. No Favorites!
Avoid creating “favourites” by doing
quick mental tallies of whom you’ve
praised recently.
6. Be Clear and Mean It
The best positive feedback is
sincere and specific. Tell the
person exactly why you are praising
them;
“Tony, that extra analysis was
really appreciated by the project
team and allowed them to make a
decision immediately”.
Tony now knows exactly what to do
next time to get praise.
7. Catch People Doing Things
Right
The more you catch people doing
things right, the more right things
they will do! Encourage positive
actions by letting people know when
they do things well. Start today,
and in only three weeks time, giving
positive feedback will be a
life-long habit.
By Lyndsay Swinton
Owner, Management for the Rest of Us
www.mftrou.com