How to give constructive feedback

We all have to face criticism at some point in our careers. But if you’re the person who’s giving – rather than receiving – feedback, it’s not always easy to avoid causing offence.

Giving productive or positive feedback is always more helpful than delivering negative criticism, and not just for those on the receiving end. Positive and constructive criticism can help strengthen relationships between workers, managers and employers, and improve the quality of work as well as encourage higher productivity.

Here are some of the things you may want to keep in mind the next time you give feedback in the workplace:

Don’t delay
Any method of giving positive feedback is helpful, but if you want to get the maximum effect try to say something as soon as possible, rather than waiting before making a comment. After all, it’s rarely helpful to get feedback for something you did weeks or months later.

Choose the right time and place
Depending on the nature of your feedback, the recipient may not appreciate your conversation being overheard. Before you act, think about whether it’s appropriate to speak up privately or in public. Also take the recipient’s state of mind into account. If they’re upset, nervous or angry, it may be advisable to wait until they’re calmer and in a better state of mind.

Avoid getting personal
Remember that effective feedback shouldn’t be about the person in question, but about the way they've behaved or something they've done. Your comments won’t be seen as constructive if you criticise someone’s appearance, beliefs or values.

Meanwhile, it’s good practise to phrase your feedback in terms of how something has affected you and what you thought about it. This helps the recipient accept your feedback less personally, as they can’t be responsible for how you feel.

Be specific
Whatever you’re feeding back on, stick closely to the facts of the matter and be very specific – avoid general statements. Think carefully about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it, and stick to the issue in question. If you’re commenting on something somebody has done or the way they've behaved, mention the specific occasion when it happened. Most importantly, try to offer positive suggestions on how they could do things differently or how they could improve the situation.

Credit where credit’s due
Don’t forget to praise your co-workers or employees when they do a good job. Taking the time to let them know how much you appreciate their efforts can boost their self-esteem as well as their attitude towards their job and the company. It also shows them you’re interested in them and the role they play in the workplace. 

Also try to remember to give positive feedback when someone makes a contribution to a project that isn’t their own – when they've helped a colleague, for instance. This may help encourage greater co-operation in the office. 

Finally, aim to give constructive feedback on a regular basis, because if you only offer praise or criticism once a year or so, it may not have much of an impact. Effective feedback – whether praising good performance or offering suggestions for improvement –should be frequent and ongoing, rather than something that happens once in a blue moon.

To find out more about how CABA can support your career visit cabacareers.org.uk