October 5, 2006

One Simple Yet Powerful Tip For Giving Feedback

We're often placed in situations where we're required - or feel compelled - to evaluate someone else's work, accomplishments or progress.

It may be evaluating an employee's report... a friend's painting ... or your kid's ability to catch a ball.

How you react - what you say or do - if you DON'T think this person has actually done very well... for example, the report is shoddy, the painting looks bl**dy awful, or your kid dropped the ball... is absolutely critical.

It's critical to:

1. How you make them feel
2. How they regard you
3. The extent to which they seek your feedback in the future
4. Whether they actually improve

Well, if your aim is to make them feel positive about themselves and you, to encourage them to seek your feedback in the future, and to actually improve their results... let me offer you ONE simple yet powerful tip.

It's encapsulated in a quote from sales motivator, Zig Ziglar:

"Criticise the performance, praise the performer."

(And often it's better to "critique" rather than "criticise" too!)

Think about it.