Feedback |
- Express feedback in a constructive manner
- Use specific objective statements, behaviors or metrics
- Describe how actions/behaviors have a positive or negative impact
- Share how these behaviors matter to you, the team and the organization
- Provide timely feedback at an appropriate time and place
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- Being vague or too general in your feedback – “You’re doing great”
- Using absolute expressions (utilizing words “always” and “never”)
- Using offensive or discriminatory language
- Being defensive
- Providing corrective feedback in public
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Ask Questions |
- Actively listen without interrupting
- Demonstrate openness to questions
- Communicate in a clear, professional and easy to understand manner
- Inquire about your employee’s future professional goals
- Gain clarity and validate your understanding
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- Interrupting
- Using condescending, aggressive or closed body language
- Jumping to conclusions or finishing someone’s sentences
- Mentally thinking about how you will respond while the other is talking
- Assuming that your understanding is the same as the other person’s
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Conversation |
- Acknowledge the employee’s contributions and positive efforts
- Explain how the behavior affects the performance
- Solicit input and gain agreement with goals, expectations and objectives
- Engage in frequent dialogue
- Be respectful in your word choice
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- Being the only one talking
- Sending mixed messages
- Dodging uncomfortable issues
- Being the only one generating ideas
- Waiting to have the conversation until you’re frustrated with performance
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Explore Options |
- Encourage the employee to find solutions to sustain or improve performance
- Identify resources to sustain or improve performance
- Express your support for any agreed upon action plan
- Create mutually agreed upon time lines
- Be realistic
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- Coming up with the solution on your own
- Using training classes as the only solution for growth and development
- Utilizing the same solution for all employees
- Seeing just one side of the issue
- Being closed minded when exploring potential solutions
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