Giving Effective Feedback Early Career Faculty Development Program 29 August 2011 {{} Francine Montemurro, Boston University Ombuds www.bu.edu/ombuds Giving Effective Feedback {{} Giving Effective Feedback Why bother? • Improvement. {{} • Motivation, confidence, and engagement. • Clarity/self-awareness: Job expectations? Performance quality? Best use of my time? Influence on others? Quality of relationships? Giving Effective Feedback Learning Objectives • What it is. • How to give and solicit it. {{} • Help make it easier, and discuss why it’s hard. • Help make it ‘real’ for you. • Others? What is Effective Feedback? • Communicating important information … • … about performance (positive or negative) … {{} • … in a way that helps the recipient hear what you are saying … • … and that helps identify steps to improve or continue performance. What Effective Feedback Does Effective Feedback {{} • Helps recipient understand exactly what she did & what impact it had or might have had. • Build strengths and address weaknesses. • Motivates recipient to begin, continue or stop behaviors that affect performance. • Encourages self-assessment & accountability. When? • Regularly, as part of an ongoing process. {{} • At the moment it is needed. o When development opportunities arise. o When an employee needs to modify behavior. Where? • Ideally, in a private setting. {{} • Ideally, where you can give your undivided attention. • Ideally, where you can help the recipient feel comfortable. Ten Tips on How 1. Keep your composure. 2. Be specific. Give context. Be clear. 3. Focus on behaviors, not the person. 4. Explain the impact of the behavior. 5. Be timely. 6. Be artful. {{} Ten Tips on How 7. Know when to stop talking and when to listen. Listen, listen, listen!!!! {{} 8. Ask for joint problem-solving options and define next steps for success. 9. Affirm your support for the person. 10. Move on. Eleven Common Mistakes The feedback {{} 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Judges the person. Is vague. Is exaggerated with generalities. Speaks for others, not for you. Ascribes motive. Includes an implied threat. Eleven Common Mistakes The person giving the feedback {{} 7. Phrases feedback as a question. 8. Retreats while giving feedback. 9. Delays giving feedback. 10.Gives advice too early. 11.Doesn’t choose her words wisely. Why is giving effective feedback difficult? {{} Why is giving effective feedback difficult? • Interactive process with no script to follow. • Tough to get the balance right. {{} • Not always easy to anticipate or handle the emotional response. • Requires time, skill, and commitment. • Requires one other thing . . . What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! {{} “I” Messages Four parts of an “I” Message: {{} • When you__________(state what you observed • When you were late to work yesterday . . . . • I felt/thought___________ (state what you felt/thought.) • I was frustrated/troubled/ etc. . . . . • Because______(state what you need.) • Because when you are late we can’t start our staff meeting on time . . . • I would prefer ______ (state what you would prefer.) • And I would prefer that you arrive at the agreed-upon time 9am Soliciting Feedback from Others {{} Soliciting feedback from others • Gives you a reality check. {{} • Shows you care about their perspective and that their feedback matters. • Shows some humility/that you’re not a Know-It-All. • Increases the odds they will want to hear your feedback. Soliciting Feedback Some tips on getting it right • Be clear about your own motives. • Solicit feedback from the right sources {{} • Explain what effective feedback looks like. • Ask open-ended questions. • Don’t expect artful feedback. • Avoid debates. Listen, and seek to understand. • Manage your own reactions. Questions, comments, etc {{} Francine Montemurro Boston University Ombuds 19 Deerfield St, Suite 203 (617) 358-5960 http://www.bu.edu/ombuds/