You cannot avoid providing feedback to others in your management practice. Whether expressing your opinion on one of your colleagues' project or providing a formal performance evaluation to your subordinate, do not underestimate your skills. The way you can provide feedback sets not only the tone of your communication with a given person but also the way you will be viewed by your entire professional surroundings.
Read the following six tips on how to provide constructive feedback without unnecessary cruelty if you have to criticize. The tips were originally published in The QuickBase Blog.
1. Assess your mood
Do not provide feedback to anybody immediately after you get upset due to a certain event or discovery. Better wait and relax. Reschedule your feedback meeting for later time when you can give your feedback fairly.
2. Adapt
Show that you think about others and ask them which method of providing feedback they prefer.
3. Gather the facts
Do not rely on what you heard from other sources. Do not make conclusions before you hear the other side's view. When you accuse someone unjustly, it will not be forgotten for a long time.
4. Clarify your goal
Do not blame yourself that you criticizes others just because you want to be honest. Carefully consider whether you just do not want to hurt the other peorson and help yourself.
5. Be as specific as possible
Always speak directly to the point and watch out for general and vague comments. Do not remind the issues that have already been resolved long ago.
6. Agree to solve the problem
If you are solving a problem with someone, agree on how to proceed. Let the person offer his or her own ideas for achieving this goal.
To criticize constructively, do not repeat your complaints over and over again. Stick to the facts, listen carefully and do not forget the encouragement that things will turn for the better.
-kk-