Giving employees feedback on their performance is critical for organizational success and for the personal and professional development of staff. Below are some tips for delivering professional feedback in the workplace.
Privacy
Feedback regarding an employee’s performance is best given in private meetings rather than in settings where other staff members are present. Employees will be more comfortable hearing suggestions and discussing problems without others present.
Regular Sessions
Discussions about employee performance should happen regularly. This gives employees the opportunity to address problem areas before performance reviews.
Set a Positive Tone
People generally respond best to constructive criticism if they also sense that their efforts, abilities, and contributions are recognized and appreciated. Start a feedback session by sharing observations about an employee’s strengths and what they are doing well.
Provide Details
Give as much information as possible about your expectations for improvement in a problem area. For example, if an employee takes too long to answer emails, do not just tell them they need to be more responsive. Instead, give clear expectations such as “emails should be answered within a day, even if your first response is just to let the sender know you are researching their question and will get back to them as quickly as possible.”
Have a Conversation
Feedback is a two-way street. Give employees time to share their thoughts on why a problem is occurring. Encourage employees to feel comfortable speaking openly and honestly in your feedback sessions. Express your interest in supporting and working on an employee’s professional development goals and addressing the organization’s needs. If an employee’s performance problem is due to the need to improve a skill set, identify training or mentoring opportunities that the employee can leverage.
Document Expectations
Provide a written summary of action plans and expectations discussed in a feedback session. Note deadlines for action items in writing. Provide the employee with a copy of this action plan and use it to check in on progress in future feedback sessions.
With a consistent and positive approach that provides clear and detailed expectations, professional feedback is one of the most effective tools for developing employee strengths and improving performance.