Feedback, not Criticism

In a workplace, whether it’s a library or some other organization, we need rules for employees, and we need to get along and work together. Really, it’s the same as in a home and family. We need to meet certain standards of behavior.

And when someone doesn’t meet those standards, they need feedback. Let me repeat, they need feedback that can help them improve. They do not need criticism.

Feedback is providing information about your reaction to a product or to a person’s actions, to be used as a basis for improvement.

Jesse Lyn Stoner once again provides us with a useful article on Criticism, Boundaries, and Useful Feedback.  To get the full benefit, you’ll want to read the whole article. But for a preview, here are some of the tips she suggests for giving feedback:

1. Be specific.
2. Direct feedback toward behavior the receiver can do something about.
3. Timing is important.
4. Make sure your communication was clear.