Why is Effective Feedback Important?

Effective feedback helps us improve and grow. Good feedback describes areas for improvement and offers ways to improve.

Shows us what we don’t know about ourselves

Effective feedback often tells us things we don’t know about ourselves. Sometimes it’s physical – like speaking too fast. Or it could be a mistake in our work that we’re not aware of.

Johari Window

The Johari Window describes the four parts of our self-awareness:

1. Open: What we know about ourselves, and is also known by others
2. Blindspot: What we don’t know about ourselves, but is known by others
3. Hidden: What we know about ourselves, but is not known by others.
4. Unknown: What we don’t know about ourselves, and is not known by others.¹

Effective feedback helps us see our Blind Spots. When we see them we can start to improve.

What Makes Feedback Effective?

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–Effective feedback has 7 qualities:

1. Timely: Soon after the occurrence
2. Kind: Help the recipient build skills; don’t embarrass or shame them
3. Positive: Tell the recipient what to do, not what not to do
4. Honest: Don’t lie to be nice. Tell the truth, kindly
5. Useful: “Great job!” is kind but not useful. Give practical, precise feedback
6. Brief: Focus on only 1 improvement – the most important one. More will confuse the recipient
7. Specific: Be precise and give examples

How to Give Feedback

There are many ways to give feedback. This simple 3-step method is easy to remember and use.

1. Keep  Start by describing the best part: What did they do well? What should they keep doing?
2. Improve  Then describe the most important improvement, and why it’s important. Focus on ‘next time’ or ‘in future.’ For example, Next time, try to let us know before the deadline. That way we can help you before it’s a problem.
3. Ask the recipient if they have questions, if what you said makes sense

How to Receive Feedback

We often feel ashamed or embarrassed when receiving feedback. Most of us have a really mean inner critic who yells at us for not being perfect. This makes it hard to listen and learn.

Try to silence your inner critic so that you can benefit from the feedback. These strategies will help:

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Listen actively.

• Make eye contact with the person giving you feedback
• Take notes – you’ll forget what they said
• Summarize what they said

Be respectful & professional.

• Avoid arguing, defending or explaining; try to drop your defences
• Watch your tone, words and body language
• Look for what’s true and what’s useful

Ask questions to clarify doubts and get precise details and examples.

For example:

• Can you say more about…?
• Can you explain that further, please?
• What advice can you give me?
• How can I build that skill?
• Where could I learn more about…?
• What do you recommend?

Appreciate the feedback.

• See the speaker’s good intentions
• Thank the speaker and show appreciation for their time and energy
• Look for what’s useful in the feedback and how it can help you

Reflect & grow.

• Reflect on the feedback and decide your next steps:
  • What did you learn?
  • How will you use the feedback to improve your skills?
  • What will you do next time?

1. Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, “The johari window,” Human relations training news 5, no. 1 (1961): 6-7, http://www.richerexperiences.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Johari-Window.pdf