Picture this: You’re a manager who wants to correct your staff’s mistakes and guide them toward improvement, but you also want to ensure their feelings are respected and nurtured. How can you provide criticism without bruising egos?
Correcting staff can be a delicate matter. Oftentimes, the best intentions are lost in the sea of emotions that happen when giving and receiving constructive criticisms. We’re here to discuss how to navigate this tricky situation. Let us share with you the low-down on the art of correcting staff without leaving emotional scars.
- Be specific:
When providing feedback, be specific about the behavior or action that needs to be corrected. Use specific examples to illustrate your point. - Focus on the behavior, not the person:
Avoid making personal attacks or criticism. Instead, focus on the behavior or action that needs to be corrected. - Provide constructive feedback:
Provide feedback that is constructive and offers a solution to the problem. For example, instead of simply criticizing an employee’s work, offer suggestions on how they could improve. - Use a positive tone:
Use a positive and respectful tone when providing feedback. Avoid using negative language or a confrontational tone. - Listen to their perspective:
Allow the employee to share their perspective and listen to their point of view. This can help to build trust and foster open communication. - Follow up:
Follow up with the employee to ensure that they have understood the feedback and are making progress towards correcting the issue. This can help to reinforce the importance of the feedback and demonstrate your commitment to helping them improve
Correcting bad performance or poor behavior that your staff exhibits is no easy feat. Many leaders struggle with giving negative feedback because it is awkward and we don’t want to hurt people’s feelings. We hope the tips we shared will help you manage performance and correct your people without leaving emotional scars.
Learn to Correct & Manage Workplace Performance. Attend our training on Performance Management which is available as a live online class or onsite face-to-face class.
