How to Give Constructive Feedback

Constructive feedback in the workplace is important as it helps individuals to learn, grow and develop. The thought of giving feedback can often seem quite daunting, as you don’t know how it will be received. It is crucial to be honest when providing feedback, otherwise it won’t have the desired effect. These are some tips for giving constructive feedback in the workplace.

Focus on the Positives

When delivering constructive feedback in the workplace , you should focus on the positives, even if you need to discuss some less favourable aspects. For instance, you might tell an employee during a performance review that they are a great leader and build strong relationships with their colleagues, but they could improve their delegation skills. When you make the negative aspects the focal point in a feedback discussion, you instantly put the employee on the back foot and make them feel under attack. Similarly, if you are providing feedback on a piece of work that a colleague has created, make sure you tell them the good points first, before you discuss the aspects that could be improved.

Suggestions for Improvement

There is no point in delivering constructive feedback in the workplace without any suggestions for how to improve it, as it will just feel like criticism. For instance, if you are having a difficult discussion with a manager about their poor management skills, you might suggest that they attend management training to improve their performance. Similarly, if you are providing feedback on a colleague’s PowerPoint presentation, give them some ideas for how to make improvements.

Ask for Feedback

Most people feel a little uncomfortable when receiving constructive feedback in the workplace and to help them feel a bit more at ease, you can ask them for feedback too. For example, if you are undertaking a performance review with an employee, you might say something like “do you agree with the feedback I’ve provided, or is there anything you feel I may have misunderstood or gotten wrong?” It should always be a conversation, rather than a discussion that only goes one way.

Connect with the Individual

It is much easier to take constructive feedback in the workplace from someone you know well and have a good relationship with, which is why it is important to build relationships before you do this. For instance, if someone presents a spreadsheet to you which is full of mistakes but you have only just started in a job, it is best not to say anything - unless directly asked. Offering unsolicited feedback can instantly put you on the back foot in a job. However, if you know the person and have a good friendship, they will take it in the way it is intended.

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