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But despite all writing and talking about the importance of feedback, I don’t see much of it. Especially not the feedback which helps people improve. What is your experience?
I think many of us are too afraid of giving feedback and thus get little practice. This counts for both formal and informal leadership. We don't want to hurt or interfere. When the feedback sometimes comes out, it is to blunt and does nothing else then moving people into defense mode.
I constantly hear people criticize other peoplespeaking negatively about others who are not present. I hear it almost everywhere and I think it is bad behavior and cowardliness. It does not help the person being spoken about, nor does it benefit an organization. I think this is the core thing we all need to improve. Stop gossiping, start feedbacking!
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Marcus Buckingham has a lot to say about workable feedback. His main advice is that feedback should not be advice opinions for what to do, but all be about a reaction. “When you did or said <something> It made me understood, feel or think <something>.” If it is possible to expand and also explain the input can be even more useful.
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