Constructive Feedback

Individual Worksheet: Constructive Feedback (Due Week Two)

There are four guidelines for effective feedback:

1) Describe the situation or behavior

a) specifically

b) without making assumptions

c) in concrete terms, not judgments

2) Explain your reaction to the behavior, or the consequences of the behavior

a) specifically

b) related to the behavior, not the person

c) calmly

d) without exaggeration

3) Request a change (if needed)

a) realistically

b) invite discussion

4) Express the potential results of change (if needed).

a) realistically

b) specifically

Exercise #1

Read the following descriptions of situations or behavior and mark the response in each set that is most appropriate.

1) In addressing an employee who repeatedly demonstrates a large degree of disorganization

a) When you can't find that correspondence file I requested ...

b) When your filing system is so disorganized you can't find the file I requested ...

c) When you lose the file I requested ...

2) In addressing an employee or team member that has difficulty adhering to deadlines...

a) When you can't plan ahead and meet a simple writing deadline ...

b) When you don't meet your responsibilities on deadlines ...

c) When you miss the writing deadline for our spring promotion...

Exercise #2

Read the following explanations of "reactions" and mark the answer in each set that is most appropriate.

3) When you can't find that correspondence I requested ...

a) You'll look pretty inefficient to others.

b) I get irritated because it slows down my work on the project.

c) It could be the last straw that sends our company over the edge.

4) When you miss the writing deadline for our spring promotion ...

a) The campaign may not go out on time, and I could fail to meet the sales goals I'm accountable for, including losing my bonus.

b) Your reputation for reliability may suffer.

c) I start thinking you're totally unreliable.

Exercise #3

Read the following requests for change to the situations provided and mark the answer in each set that is most appropriate.

5) When you can't find that correspondence I requested, I get irritated because it slows down my work on the project.

a) Hurry up!

b) By next week, I'd like you to organize the filing system.

c) This keeps happening over and over again, and it needs to stop.

6) When you miss the writing deadline for our spring promotion, the campaign may not go out on time, and I could fail to meet the sales goals I'm accountable for, including losing my bonus.

a) You don't want that to happen, do you?

b) What kind of system can we work out to ensure this doesn't happen again?

c) From now on, your writing deadline will be 2 weeks before anyone else's.

Exercise #4

Read the following descriptions of potential results of change and mark the answer in each set that is most appropriate.

7) When you can't find that correspondence I requested, I get irritated because it slows down my work on the project. By next week, I'd like you to organize the filing system.

a) If you can't do that, you will prove your incompetence.

b) Then it should be smooth sailing from here on out.

c) It should prove less frustrating to both of us if you can find the files we need.

8) When you miss the writing deadline for our spring promotion, the campaign may not go out on time, and I could fail to meet the sales goals I'm accountable for, including losing my bonus. What kind of system can we work out to ensure this doesn't happen again?

a) Solving this issue will certainly provide me with some peace of mind about all the factors that depend on our campaign rolling out on time.

b) And don't say "I don't know" again.

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