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- Give Feedback
Daniel Defoe's book, ‘Robinson
Crusoe' was based on the real-life story of Alexander Selkirk, a sailor
marooned on a small island in the Pacific. In the poem
“ The Solitude of Alexander Selkirk”, the author, William Cowper, says in one stanza:
“Ye
winds that have made me your sport,
Convey to this
desolate shore
Some cordial
endearing report
Of a land I shall
visit no more:
My friends do they now and then send
A wish or a thought
after me?
O tell me I yet have
a friend,
Though a friend I am never to see.”
This clearly illustrates the
shattering effects of being cut-off from other humans (even the wild beasts take
no notice of him). His misery is
complete. So also the misery of those of us who are deprived of ‘strokes', and
feedback. Lack of feedback disillusions, leads to loss of direction and
impetus at work, and can break any but the most die-hard individualist. Some
points to ponder on feedback:
Feedback can be both negative and positive. It can
be both verbal as well as non-verbal.
You can create desirable patterns of behavior by
(a)
discouraging undesirable patterns of behavior with negative feedback, and (b) encouraging the desirable ones with trumpeted
positive feedback. Ensure
(a) exceeds (b)! Avoid favoritism.
Some tips:
- Essential to General Management as an integral
part of learning; it creates the desire to learn in the approved areas,
reinforces impressions, by concrete approval of behavior, puts the person
mentally at ease and increases self-confidence.
- Not easy; requires courage, skill and mutual
respect.
- It should be made clear to the recipient that
negative feedback is related to the worker's performance, not the
PERSON!
- It should be given as soon as possible.
- It can be given anywhere… maybe while you are
sipping your cuppa and walking about.
Encourage two-way communication in adult mode, after the feedback, negative or
positive: it clears the atmosphere and builds the foundation for better
mutual respect. It softens the blow of negative
feedback and gives the recipient time to regain his composure… and will
increase his regard for you, for being so considerate. Bosses get as much out of feedback, perhaps more, than
they realize.
- It is the twin sister of ‘Follow-up', the other
side of the manager's badge of honor.
QUESTIONS: 1.
What is feedback, and why is it so important?
2. Give your views on what feedback is, and what it should be in an organization?
