How to give negative feedback objectively
Summary
- Give negative feedback in a non-judgemental, objective manner
Details
- saying 'you are rude' or 'you are incompetent' will put the person on teh defensive.
- Better say, 'I noticed that you interrupted jane several times in that meeting'. its factual and objective.
- Focus on what went wrong.
- focus on alternative actions to be used in the future
References
Quotes
So how can we all learn to craft a culture of candid feedback, one
that delivers negative feedback without ruining anyone’s day? Well, there are a few steps to follow. First, root your analysis in objective, non-judgemental terms. ‘I noticed you cut Hermione off a few times in that meeting’ is much more effective than ‘You are incredibly rude.’ Similarly, telling people ‘You are wrong’ or ‘You are incompetent’ is going to make that person feel attacked and defensive – it’s too subjective (not to mention a little rude, too). Just stick to the facts. Second, focus on the tangible results of what’s gone wrong.
Again, subjectivity is your enemy. So simply highlight, factually, the consequence of what you observed. For example, ‘I noticed that after you interrupted Ron in the meeting the discussion died down a bit. That’s a real shame because I would have really liked to hear what other people have to say.’
Finally, turn your attention away from the problem and towards
the solution. Provide alternatives of what you’d like to see happen. For example, ‘Next time, please wait until people are finished speaking before sharing your thoughts’ or ‘Next time, maybe you could ask people questions to show that you’re interested in their view but might not agree with them. I feel like asking questions might get a better reaction from them and maybe lead to collaboration.’ Offering alternatives focuses the discussion on possible solutions to the problem and helps the other person avoid feeling personally criticise