It can be pretty daunting to give feedback to a peer. Being on the receiving end is not always easy either, as it can be rather challenging to process feedback without taking it personally. However, given the importance of constructive feedback on our personal and professional growth, it’s about time we reevaluate how we perceive feedback.
Think of this as a chance to develop your communication skills and improve your performance at work. By working on how you give and receive feedback, you are squashing any opportunity for a toxic work environment to develop, in effect leaving plenty of room for improved relationships between coworkers.
Things to Consider When Giving Constructive Feedback
Consider preparing what you want to say in an orderly fashion by writing down a list of your ideas and ranking them in order of importance. Avoid straying too far off from your main point by keeping your feedback focused on the issue at hand. You want to give the person receiving feedback a chance to understand your grievances without finding themselves overwhelmed with unimportant pieces of information.
It is also essential to put yourself in your peer’s position. Ask yourself if you would be able to handle such feedback, especially if it’s negative. You want to be realistic with your feedback; avoid being critical of the other person for something entirely out of their control.
The best way to give constructive feedback is to focus on one issue at a time. When you try to give more than one unflattering feedback in one sitting, you risk making your workmate feel that you are attacking them on all fronts, so try to stick to one constructive point of feedback at a time. Additionally, do not make things personal by pointing fingers or using an accusatory tone because it can create unnecessary and unproductive tension.
Instead, use the famous “sandwich method,” which involves cushioning the less favorable feedback between two sets of positive insights. You can finish your conversation with solid words of encouragement as a means to keep morale up even after saying what you needed to say.
Tips for Receiving and Responding to Constructive Feedback
Allow yourself to be open and non-confrontational when receiving feedback. Try adopting a welcoming mindset by being attentive and hearing your co-worker out without being too defensive. Understand that your coworker is trying to help you, even if what they’re saying can potentially be hurtful at first.
Your body language and the tone of your voice are both crucial when responding to your peer’s evaluation. In any case, remember not to take things personally because it can affect the way you respond. By having open and meaningful conversations with your workmate, you will both be working together to improve your work performance and working relationship.
Also, do not hesitate to ask for a follow-up on your work performance after doing your best to correct the issues brought up to you. Keeping constant tabs on how you are doing at work shows your keen interest in offering the best version of yourself and demonstrating how much you value the input of your peers.
Ways You Can Improve Delivering and Receiving Feedback Effectively
Being good at delivering and receiving feedback is easier said than done, and it might take years before you actually get accustomed to doing things the right way. However, time is of the essence when it comes to feedback. If you want your working experience to improve at the earliest opportunity, you want to learn how to receive and deliver feedback in the best way possible.
As such, you stand to benefit from our Giving and Receiving Feedback program, where you will get comprehensive training on the dos and don’ts of exchanging feedback. This training program can help you improve your working experience with your peers as soon as possible. To learn more, give us a call at 610-454-1557.