Giving Effective Feedback for Entrepreneurs | Duane Ham | Entrepreneurship

Giving feedback is one of the most important skills for any entrepreneur. It’s how one keeps their team on track and helps them improve their performance. However, giving effective feedback can be tricky. If an individual is not careful, one can end up damaging relationships or causing confusion. This article will discuss seven top strategies for delivering effective feedback.

1. Make it a two-way conversation

When giving feedback, it’s important to make it a two-way conversation. This means that one should ask questions and encourage discussion. This will help the person receiving the feedback to understand the perspective and give them a chance to ask questions or share their thoughts.

2. Be specific

It’s important to be as specific as possible when giving feedback. The person receiving the feedback knows exactly what they need to work on. Vague comments like “you need to do better” or “good job” are not helpful and can be confusing.

3. Avoid using “you” statements

When you’re giving feedback, avoid using “you” statements. For example, don’t say, “you’re doing it wrong.” Instead, try to use “I” statements. For example, “I noticed that you didn’t do X” or “I would appreciate it if you could do X.” This will help the person receiving the feedback feel like you’re on their side and not attacking them.

4. Avoid using “I” statements

This may seem contradictory to the previous point, but it’s important to avoid using “I” statements when giving feedback. For example, don’t say, “I think you should do X.” Instead, try to use “you” statements. For example, “You might want to consider doing X” or “Have you thought about doing X?” This will help the person receiving the feedback feel like their opinion is valued and that you’re not just trying to tell them what to do.

5. Be aware of one tone

The tone of voice can be just as important as the words one uses when giving feedback. Avoid sounding judgmental, condescending, or angry. Instead, try to sound supportive and positive.

6. Avoid giving criticism that is not constructive

It’s important to avoid giving criticism that is not constructive. This means that your feedback should be specific, objective, and helpful. For example, don’t say, “you’re lazy.” Instead, try to focus on what the person could do differently. For example, “I noticed that you didn’t take the initiative to work on that project. Next time, I would appreciate it if you could start working on it as soon as you’re assigned to it.”

7. Follow up after giving feedback

After giving feedback, it’s important to follow up with the person receiving the feedback. This means checking in to see how they’re doing and whether or not they’ve been able to make the changes you suggested. This will show that one is invested in their success and care about their development.

Giving feedback can be tricky, but it’s important to do it effectively. By following these seven strategies, one can be sure that their feedback is helpful and constructive.

Originally published at https://duaneham.net on July 18, 2022.