How to Provide Constructive Criticism - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

How to Provide Constructive Criticism - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. There are certainly right and wrong ways of providing constructive criticism to an employee. Giving constructive criticism isn’t easy, but it is vital when it comes to the workflow of your organization. Providing feedback helps an employee improve professionally and also increases the quality of work being done. Feedback is the keyway for an employee to know whether they’re executing and reaching their goals properly. Provide Dialogue Giving feedback doesn’t mean you’re going to sit there and only tell the individual what to improve on. Constructive criticism is an opportunity to have a conversation. Opening up a dialogue will increase improvements versus resistance because it provides clarity. Having a conversation also allows the individual to ask questions, helping them easily understand what needs to be changed. Don’t Make It Personal Be sure to be candid about problems without personally attacking the employee. Instead of addressing the person creating the problem, focus on the situation using passive voice. Explaining how the problem at hand affects you also shifts the focus away from the person. This way they aren’t feeling attacked and they are able to see where you’re coming from, from a lighter angle. Be Specific It is extremely important to be specific when giving feedback to an employee, especially if you want them to improve. If you aren’t specific, it’s likely the mistake or problem at hand may occur again due to confusion or a lack of clarity. The more actionable the advice, the more it will be easier for the person to understand. Constructive criticism can be hard to give to an employee. But, this should never be the only feedback they are receiving. Be sure to give praise where it’s due! Showing an employee they are valued makes the office a happier and more positive environment.