Feedback Tips Weekly (Archived)

“Feedback intervention is defined ‘as actions taken by (an) external agent(s) to provide information regarding some aspect(s) of one’s task performance.’” —Kluger & DeNisi (1996). The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory. The work of Kluger and DeNisi shifted the world of feedback research. … Read more

A few semesters ago, a student told me about their goal of reading 100 nonfiction books throughout the year. They were on book 21 and asked if I had any recommendations. I had plenty and provided a few, but I first asked them about the latest book they read. It was Give and Take by … Read more

Two astronauts float in space. One holds a sign that reads “Former Flat Earther.”

I had thought about this moment for years. I visualized every possible part of it. Except this part. I was sitting on the toilet five minutes before I entered the octagon for my first mixed martial arts fight. For those who know this sport: elbows and soccer kicks were fair game. I had prepared in … Read more

“Ring the bells that still can ring.Forget your perfect offeringThere is a crack, a crack in everythingThat’s how the light gets in.” -Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992) Let’s call him Bill. I met Bill at a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) academy in Bangkok, Thailand. For those who don’t know, BJJ is a martial art that may, on … Read more

Fire by Judy Brown What makes a fire burn is the space between the logs, a breathing space. Too much of a good thing, too many logs packed in too tight can douse the flames almost as surely as a pail of water would. So building fires requires attention to the spaces in between, as … Read more

A feedback moat describes performance areas or parts of our skill set that we’ve surrounded with some defenses. Just as a moat serves as a method of defense—a way to protect the castle—we can build moats around performance areas we feel the need to defend. Why this is important As we’ve discussed, building self-awareness is … Read more

In one of the Buddha’s teachings, he tells the story of two arrows. The first hit you; it was beyond your control. You feel the sting of it. You hold another arrow in your hand. It’s made up of your judgment for being hit with the first one. “I’m so dumb,” you think to yourself. … Read more

Are you thinking about facilitating employee feedback training at your organization, either leading it yourself or bringing an external expert? Fantastic. It may be one of the most rewarding experiences of your career. For your company, it’s also one of the most important. As Dr. Angela Duckworth, psychology professor, MacArthur “genius” grant recipient, and author … Read more

Summary. Performative feedback occurs when the feedback giver, receiver, or seeker “performs” their role based on role expectations or ulterior motives rather than authenticity and a genuine desire to help or improve. This article examines where performative feedback communication arises and strategies for moving towards more authentic feedback communication. Where performative feedback occurs Feedback givers … Read more

I was on a video call with thousands of other employees from all over the world when it happened. Yes, one of the company’s most senior leaders went there: “I have far more respect for the colleague who brings me solutions, not just the problem.” Ugh. Many folks smiled and nodded in agreement. Hundreds of … Read more

Asynchronous feedback does not occur in real-time. Put another way, it grants the provider some time to compile and deliver their feedback without the pressure of an immediate response. Have you ever waited days, maybe weeks, to provide feedback on a task or on a colleague’s performance because your schedules didn’t align? Have you ever … Read more

A feedback river is a central place to see and classify all relevant feedback. Slack or email digests are common ways to build feedback rivers. Organizational Feedback Systems While many consider the central place of feedback rivers as the end goal, I see it as the second step of a 3-step process. In this sense, … Read more

We’ve all grown because of feedback, but very few of us share these important stories—including with the early-in-career colleagues who need to hear them the most. Let’s cover the challenges that can arise as a result. Challenges to the feedback culture As we’ve covered, building an effective feedback culture takes work, and part of this … Read more

A feedback bubble is a small circle of colleagues from which you receive regular feedback. Such bubbles are natural parts of our working environment, particularly because most work occurs within small groups. However, while feedback bubbles can serve as safe and effective places to give and receive feedback, intentionally seeking feedback outside of them can … Read more

While generally underutilized, leveraging peer-to-peer feedback in the workplace can improve deliverable quality, promote team feedback literacy, and free up space for increasingly burned-out middle managers. Some studies suggest that receiving feedback from a few of your peers is more effective than receiving feedback from your leader. Most research on peer-to-peer feedback focuses on the … Read more

Biases against women are interwoven into nearly all sectors of life and, therefore, also appear in the feedback research. Patriarchal norms and biases are built into many of our systems—from the businesses we work for to the religions we practice. They run deep, even showing up, for example, in female-dominated workplaces. So, while it shouldn’t … Read more

“… the current study examined age differences in moderating the relationships between the characteristics of performance feedback and employee reactions to the feedback event. The results suggest that older workers had higher levels of feedback orientation on social awareness, but lower levels of feedback orientation on utility than younger workers.” Source: Age Differences in Feedback … Read more

The Feedback Orientation Scale is comprised of 20 items on a 5-point scale meant to determine an individual’s receptivity to feedback and their individual feedback receptivity differences. It builds London & Smither’s concept of feedback orientation into a practical workplace feedback tool. As the researchers put it: “Feedback orientation, a construct proposed by London and … Read more

“Feedback orientation refers to an individual’s overall receptivity to feedback, including comfort with feedback, tendency to seek feedback and process it mindfully, and the likelihood of acting on the feedback to guide behavior change and performance improvement.” —Manuel London & James W. Smither, Feedback orientation, feedback culture, and the longitudinal performance management process As I … Read more

“Though most of us no longer have to fend off predators, our brains are still exquisitely attuned to threats — both physical and social. It’s a vestige of how survival has largely depended on appeasing group members. Among our ancestors, eviction from the group led to a dangerous, isolated existence in the wild.” —Using neuroscience … Read more

Feedback literacy is your capacity to effectively give, ask for, seek, receive, use, and process feedback. Developing these capacities takes being in relationship with others; it’s a team sport. Let’s explore how to improve team feedback literacy. Why team feedback literacy matters Teams capable of continuously learning from each other are likelier to perform at … Read more

If you’ve read The Right Way to Process Feedback, you now know the importance of processing challenging feedback after you’ve received it. In summary, this period of processing helps us understand our thoughts and feelings about the feedback, which can help us make better decisions about it. Scroll to the end of this post for … Read more

“Research shows the habit of reflection can separate extraordinary professionals from mediocre ones.” — James R. Bailey & Scheherazade Rehman, Don’t Underestimate the Power of Self-Reflection In the past, I used to quickly move on when I received positive feedback. I erroneously thought it was the negative feedback where I should spend all my time. … Read more

The feedback giver’s mindset should be less about what do I need out of this and more about what does the receiver need to make effective use of this. It may appear to be a subtle shift but, in my experience, many feedback givers can get so caught up in their own performance — particularly … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Regarding constructive feedback communication at work, hiding emotions seems to be an unwritten role. Here’s why it can be a rule worth breaking. In several blogs, we’ve covered how giving negative feedback can create so much anxiety for the giver that they refuse … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Downward feedback typically refers to feedback given by a manager to their direct report. It can also refer to any feedback given by a more senior employee to a junior employee. If I facilitate a 60-minute discussion about feedback, at least one participant, … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Giving constructive feedback is challenging. It’s so challenging that 21% of managers avoid giving it. It’s so challenging that leaders directly ask executive coaches like Melody Wilding: “How do I overcome the fear of giving feedback?” To combat this stress, many feedback givers … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) “If feedback isn’t viewed as discussable, it should be positioned as a directive.” — Mychelle Mollot Mychelle’s comment was in response to when I asked my LinkedIn connections: “What’s your advice for receiving and ultimately choosing what to do with feedback?” Her insight … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) A narrative fallacy is when, in our attempt to make sense of a complex world, we construct and then believe in false and usually overly simple causes or stories about why or how something happened. Mathematical statistician Nassim Nicholas Taleb coined the term … Read more

A colorful abstract paining shows people at a circular table working on a puzzle together.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Here’s a great and ancient story from Book 35 in Pliny the Elder’s The Natural History, considered the largest work to have survived the Roman empire. A Greek painter named Appelles of Kos would display his paintings publicly while hiding behind them so … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) “The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.” That quote, often attributed to writer Charles Bukowski, touches on a cognitive bias known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. The bias presents … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) “I received feedback a decade ago that I’m just now learning how to implement in my life.” This comment came from a participant in my feedback training, and it’s a great example of how feedback can be like compost. Like organic materials, there … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Trauma of various types has caused me a tremendous amount of suffering over the years, and I’m far from alone in that. Over 70% of respondents in a 24-country survey from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium, a survey across 24 countries, reported … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) As students of feedback communication, we know we bring our cognitive biases into feedback relationships. Recency bias is one of those biases, perhaps the most common. Let’s discuss what recency bias is, how it can impact giving and receiving feedback, and what we … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Whether you are giving feedback or receiving feedback, there’s a good chance you may be diminishing your effectiveness by bringing negativity bias into the relationship. Let’s discuss what negativity bias is, how it can impact our feedback relationships, and how we can create … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) How do you listen to others? No, I don’t mean how do you perceive how you listen. I mean, actually, how do you listen to them? How do you know this to be true? These are a few questions we were asked to … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) “Show don’t tell” is common advice in creative writing workshops. The idea is to show descriptions in such a way that helps the reader see or otherwise experience them. The examples here are infinite, but consider the differences between these two passages: “The … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) The first time I was asked to provide feedback training, the request was to help newly hired employees learn the basics of receiving feedback. The second time I was asked, the request was to help managers improve how they give feedback. As additional … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) When should I give feedback to new teammates? This is a question I often hear from both new people managers and more seasoned people managers who are welcoming new colleagues. The underlying intention of the question is always good; the manager wants to … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) What is the feedback sandwich? A feedback sandwich is a way to frame negative feedback by “sandwiching” it between two positive feedback comments. What’s the purpose of the feedback sandwich? The feedback givers I’ve talked to posit these three reasons: Givers say that … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Among the many ways to seek feedback, the most obvious and certainly the most discussed is directly asking another person for feedback. We may do this directly by asking questions like: In 1983, researchers Ashford and Cummings referred to this as feedback-seeking behavior. … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Many feedback receivers think the journey ends with adopting the feedback, but a vital part is getting feedback about your adoption. At my doctor’s office today, I saw a sign similar to this: In essence — the hospital system used feedback about their … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) That a feedback receiving mindset is even necessary is news to some. And it’s not just news; it’s a mega dose of empowerment. In feedback training I’ve delivered, I’ve watched in real-time as early-in-career employees shifted their perspective — from wanting to learn … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Effective feedback should always be delivered as close to the observed behavior as possible. But there are times when delaying feedback is the best choice. Let’s explore why. The topic of when to delay feedback can be challenging, particularly because it’s clear that … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Constructive feedback can challenge feedback receivers on many levels — including emotionally. Depending on the work context, the content, and even how it was delivered, it may trigger past traumas that make it especially difficult for the receiver. That was my experience. And … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) Feelings are trailheads that lead to insight. When I speak about the role of feelings in feedback, I typically see a few folks roll their eyes with a vibe of “Here comes some fluffy nonsense.” To address that ahead of time, I now … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) This week’s tip is about receiving feedback with clarity, specifics, and clear next steps. Often, folks see the feedback relationship as a monologue rather than the dialogue it should be. Just as often, the feedback giver and receiver bring baggage (anxiety, defensiveness, etc.) … Read more

An abstract painting shows two women of color sitting at a desk. One turns on a light so the other can see.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) This week’s tip is about working through the fears that can arise within feedback givers. We are all feedback givers in one way or another, but people managers are often in such a position far more than others. At work yesterday, someone booked … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) This week’s tip is about seeking feedback not to tick a box or be perceived in a certain way, but to genuinely discover opportunities to grow. If you’ve spent some time with my content, you know I’m all-in on the power of what … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) This week’s tip is about giving feedback that has an ongoing impact on someone’s life or professional development. Giving feedback is a gift. Yes, I know that phrase is often about receiving feedback — but think about it. As a feedback giver, you … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) This week’s tip is about ensuring you get a second (and maybe third) opinion on particularly challenging feedback you’ve received. As I shared in this video, I learned this lesson the hard way and I do not wish the same for you. Over … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) This week’s tip is about intentionally developing your feedback fallback phrase. If you’re like most folks, you already have one of these, but you may not have put much thought into making it work for your needs. Okay, so a feedback fallback phrase … Read more

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cameron Conaway (@cameronconaway) This week’s tip is about skillfully responding when someone asks: Can I get your feedback? Before we dive in, it can be helpful to understand this feedback dynamic better. First, remember that getting asked for feedback is generally a very positive opening act … Read more