People:feedback/types of feedback
Before we jump into the 3 types of feedback, we wanted to make sure that you start with a foundation for how you want to be around feedback.
Whether you have been working with someone for three months or three years, there’s always an opportunity to better understand each other. Take a moment to share and acknowledge each others styles and preferences and create a meaningful alliance that works both ways.
ACTION
Schedule a meeting to "Set the Stage" and go through the following questions:
- What kind of feedback is helpful for increased awareness and growth?
- How do I want to hear feedback whether things are going well or there’s room for improvement?
- What are each of our roles and responsibilities in collecting / giving / receiving feedback?
- How do I share feedback up (i.e.: employee to manager)?
| Type of Feedback | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Appreciation | To see, acknowledge, connect, motivate, thank | "Wow, I'm so impressed by your expertise and I'm thankful you are on my team." |
| Coaching | To help receiver expand knowledge, sharpen skill, improve capability | "Since you've expressed interest in being more assertive, here are a few tips for saying 'no' effectively." |
| Evaluation | To rate or rank against a set of standards, to align expectations, to inform decision making | "You're meeting the standards for your role overall, but your written communication lacks thoughtfulness and empathy - and isn't meeting my expectations." |
WE NEED ALL THREE Each form of feedback - appreciation, coaching, and evaluation - satisfies a different set of human needs. We need evaluation to know where we stand, to set expectations, to feel secure. We need coaching to accelerate learning, to focus our time and energy where it really matters, and to keep our relationships healthy and functioning. And we need appreciation if all the sweat and tears we put into our jobs and our relationships are going to feel worthwhile.1
1Stone, Douglas, and Sheila Heen. Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback (Even When it is Off-base, Unfair, Poorly Delivered, and Frankly, You're Not in the Mood). New York: Viking Penguin, 2014. Print.