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Feedback: The Fuel That Drives Optimal Performance

Feedback: The Fuel That Drives Optimal Performance
by Hank Boyer

What keeps people going, contributing their best efforts whatever the task?

Among the many possible answers, perhaps the most effective is feedback from the person's supervisor. Effective feedback lifts the spirits and encourages people to contribute their best efforts.
 
Successful leaders practice continuous feedback to keep people engaged and contributing their best efforts. That's a recipe for winning organizations and winning careers.

Why people need feedback

Let's personalize this. Suppose you take on a challenging assignment, which requires extra effort on your part. Not only do you invest your time, you go the extra mile and deliver your assignment on time and under budget. All in all, you're quite pleased with what you achieved.

What happens if your boss is silent on your accomplishment? Chances are: 

• You'll assume the assignment was of relatively low importance since you got no feedback.
• In the absence of getting feedback, people often assume a negative. So you may wonder if somehow what you did disappointed your boss or someone else up the line. Your confidence and engagement may take a hit.
• Experiencing no appreciation or direction means you are less likely to actively seek out other assignments. When you do get asked to take on a project, you'll do it, but why bother extending yourself if nobody notices?

Let's suppose your manager is someone who primarily gives negative feedback in the form of criticism. He or she points out a few things he or she thinks went wrong, but infrequently acknowledges all of the things that went right. If this describes your manager, chances are:

• You'll likely remember how you felt after receiving your boss's stinging criticism, but forget exactly what it was that was he or she said. Any lessons here may be overwhelmed by the criticism.
• You may be a bit demoralized immediately afterward and feel less like going the extra mile — in other words, a hit to your engagement levels.
• You may even adopt criticism-avoidance behaviors in the future because of the negative feelings that remained. What do you have to do to avoid getting criticized, instead of what do you have to do to deliver exceptional results?

Read full article on MultiBriefs.