The Feedback Funnel
Giving bad -- or even "clumsy" -- feedback reflects just as poorly on a manager as responding to feedback defensively does on a direct report. Feedback is crucial to career growth, and at its core is a very good thing. Receiving feedback shows that your work is being recognized and acknowledged, and that someone in a leadership position is invested in your success.
Part of making feedback feel natural is making positive and negative (stings just as much when we dress it up as "constructive criticism") feedback more routine.
Schedule Regular 1:1 Meetings: Feedback shouldn't be saved for a performance review, and isn't always appropriate to share during team meetings. Block off time on your calendar for your team members to regularly engage with you, and use this time to address any issues that might require more attention.
Be Direct: Speaking directly to the source -- the person for whom the feedback is intended -- is a sign of respect. Trafficking feedback up to a senior leader without having shared it directly with the employee shows a lack of commitment to your working relationship, and signals that you're not interested in fixing the problem. Reserve the red flag for repeat issues.
Celebrate the Small Wins: I'll never stop championing the idea of small win recognition. I don't necessarily believe that negative feedback should always be couched in a positivity sandwich so to speak, but regular positive feedback helps foster productivity and pride, as well as trust and respect between a manager and direct report.
Focus on the Future: Feedback is often hard to stomach because it's related to one particular issue versus being communicated as part of a bigger picture for improvement. When giving feedback, or even when processing it from the receiving end, consider the role it plays in the broader context of your work so that you can demonstrate ongoing improvement.
Foster Two-Way Communication: Giving feedback means you have to be willing and open to receiving it. Soliciting feedback from your direct report(s) or even from lateral colleagues will make you a better manager.
Be Available: It's easy to settle into a closed-door comfort zone, but it's critical to over-communicate your availability to your team so that they know you're there when the desire for feedback or guidance may be more abrupt and off-the-cuff.
