Tips for Giving Feedback

Ask for permission to give feedback:

Instead of saying: “Hey before you head to lunch, I want to share something I observed earlier today in the meeting. 

Try saying: “Hey do you have a quick minute for some feedback? I want to share something with you."

Focus on the what you observed, not the person

Instead of saying: “You’re disorganized and it’s affecting the rest of the team’s progress on the project. What are you doing to get organized?”

Try saying: “I’ve noticed that time-management has become challenging with this project. How are you managing your workload? Is there anything I can do to help?”

Use "I" Statements: 

Instead of saying: “When you interrupted Emmanuel in the meeting yesterday it was uncomfortable, and we missed his point.”

Try saying: “In yesterday’s meeting I think you jumped in before Emmanuel had finished his thought. I asked him to clarify after but it diverted my attention for a minute.”

Pause and ask for the other person's reaction

Give them time to think through what you've said and how to react to it. 

Suggest Concrete Next Steps: 

"Let's identify a time to go over some time management tips and resources." 

Source: Employee feedback examples for development by Alexis Croswell, Culture Amp