Home Health & Hospice Week

What would you do to provide your employees with constructive feedback? Here are the do's and don'ts you should keep in mind. Providing employees with meaningful feedback will help them improve their performance. But this is easier said than done. Fewer than half of employers use feedback effectively, according to a New York University poll.

What prevents supervisors from providing the right feedback? According to senior consultant Jamie Higgins of the Monitor Company and Diana Smith of Monitor University, four factors get in the way: lack of perspective, assertion, personal involvement, and understanding. Knowing the myths about feedback is the first step to ensuring that your employees receive targeted guidance.

1. Keep Perspective. Every story has two sides, so your point of view is also limited. Use feedback as an opportunity to foster dialogue, not a monologue.

2. Be Assertive. Don't back down when an employee resists your feedback. Stay firm and focused; remember that wishy-washy comments are unhelpful. Instead, foster learning by asking what types of problems he or she has faced. Then, offer suggestions.

3. Get Involved. Sub-par productivity has multiple causes. Make sure you're not impeding your employees' work. Ask focused questions like: "What could I do to help you complete this task on time?"

4. Show Understanding. Mistakes happen, but covering them up doesn't help. Ask what led to the mistake, and have the employee identify steps to avoid it in the future. Your feedback will provide real learning and development.