3 Ways to Rescue a Feedback Conversation That’s Going Nowhere
Feedback conversations can feel like walking through quicksand.
These conversations have a typical path: you start with good intentions, but somewhere along the way, the conversation stalls. The employee checks out, the points you want to make aren’t landing, and you’re left wondering, “What went wrong?”
Does that sound familiar?
I’ve been there more times than I can count. I still remember sweating over the prospect of having a difficult conversation with a team member, even when I had all the information and data to back up my feedback. And I have seen many seasoned managers sweat over this, too.
I’ve learned that giving feedback is one of the trickiest tasks to get right. But I’ve also discovered a few strategies to get things back on track when a feedback conversation is starting to fall off track.
Here are three practical ways to rescue a feedback conversation that’s going nowhere — and ensure it becomes a constructive dialogue instead of a one-sided monologue.
Step 1: Reframe the Conversation
When a feedback conversation stalls, it’s often because the message feels like criticism rather than collaboration. The first step in turning things around is to reframe…
