A Five-Step Approach to Giving Powerful Feedback
“Feedback is a gift”
I’ve only met four people who are truly amazing at giving feedback. Most of us find the process awkward and forced. Sometimes, it can feel pointless. Which is a damn shame, because feedback is more than just a “gift,” it’s one of the most powerful gifts you can give anyone.
I spent years deep in a feedback culture and, along the way, I picked up a process that really helped me hone how I give feedback. I’ll share it below, along with what I learned from the people who are amazing at it. But first…
What not to do
I originally titled this article “You Suck at Feedback,” which is a tongue-in-cheek example of a really bad way to give feedback. Feedback is not accusations or allegations, it’s not something to defend against. At its core, feedback is aimed at increasing self-awareness and it comes from a place of kindness.
What does that mean? First, recognize that the whole point of feedback is to help people better understand themselves and their impact on others. It’s offering an outside perspective that they can add to their own. Yes, it can help people improve at a task or get better at a skill. But at its core, feedback is about growing self-awareness. Giving others more conscious access to the choices they make and…
