How to Give Feedback to Your Colleagues – The A+ Way!

After a meeting, your boss turns to you and asks this question: “So, what did you think about Nancy’s proposal?”

Groan… while the first thing you want to do is sink deeper into your chair, this is in fact a great opportunity for you to not only show your boss that you’re a good team player but maybe even share other great ideas that you have. Provided that you handle this like a pro!

Because giving feedback to colleagues is a skill, and it is a skill that needs good practice. It’s not an easy task; some even see it as a dreaded affair as they don’t want to rock the boat or come across as criticising, even if the input is mostly positive!

So what’s the trick to giving feedback to your colleagues? We have the hacks.

#1 Focus on the good first
Whether it is in a casual or professional setting, it is also a good idea to start with positive feedback. Mention one or two tasks that your colleague did effectively and elaborate on why you think so. After all, the goal of constructive feedback is to help your peers improve, and when you focus on the good, it will set the tone for encouraging each other instead of the feeling that you’re out to put others down for your own benefit.

#2 Be specific
Don’t say things like “I think you can do better here” or “Your idea needs improvement”. This is too broad to even qualify as feedback. If you want to offer your opinion, make sure to stick to details or risk leaving your team members confused as to what your feedback is really about. Instead, try saying “Your presentation is good but you know what would make it better? Try adding figures from previous years so we can do a quick comparison to paint the whole picture.”

#3 Do it face-to-face
So you want to offer some suggestions to your colleague. Write an email? Stop – here’s a better way to do this: Speak to your colleague face-to-face. Written communication can be misconstrued, and when it comes to feedback, your colleague may feel as if you’re criticising him instead of offering constructive criticism. At the same time, being there on the spot to discuss your feedback offers a great opportunity for you to further explain yourself or maybe even work together to come up with solutions.

#4 Don’t make it personal
Resist the urge to make the feedback personal. Focus on the issue or behaviour, not the individual which can feel like an attack. So instead of saying, “You always do this wrong”, try framing it as, “This approach didn’t work as well as it could have and here’s what I think we can do instead.” Keep the conversation objective so it is easier for your colleague to receive the feedback without feeling defensive.

#5 Offer solutions!
Instead of simply pointing out what didn’t work, aim to be constructive by suggesting ways to improve. Offer your ideas or recommendations on how things could be better or what can be avoided. For instance, say “It might help to reorganise this part by adding some examples.” This is definitely better feedback than “This section is lacking something.”

#6 Choose the right time
Timing is crucial when giving feedback. Offer it when your colleague is ready to listen and in a setting that allows for open communication. Giving your feedback during a tense moment or in front of a large crowd might make the recipient feel like you’re attacking him. So choose a private and calm environment, and make sure the person is in a receptive state to listen to you.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash.