How to give positive feedback When people are offered consistent, actionable feedback, they gain insight into their successes and opportunities for improvement. Positive feedback is especially important because it increases morale, encourages good work and helps provide a sense of purpose. Praise should motivate your team, however, in some cases it does just the opposite. Here’s how to make sure positive feedback actually works:
1. Don’t cushion the blow. Don’t routinely say something “nice” before giving criticism. Doing so conditions people to hear positive feedback as a hollow preamble to your real message. Lead instead with your investment in the relationship and reasons for having the conversation.
2. Praise effort, not personal attributes. Intelligence, talent, or abilities are mostly innate and cannot be actively replicated. Instead, compliment effort and explain exactly what actions prompted your approval. If you’re specific, you’ll reinforce the desired behaviour.
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