Question

Research indicates that most people are uncomfortable giving negative performance feedback to others. One line of research indicates that we don't like to give negative feedback because we feel bad for the recipient, while another line of research suggests that we are afraid that they will become angry with us. Think about your experiences with negative feedback and respond to at least one of the items below.

Discuss a time when you have been faced with the task of giving someone negative performance feedback. Was this difficult for you? Why or why not?

Have you ever received negative feedback about your performance? If so, how was this negative information conveyed to you? Could it have been conveyed in a better way?   

Have you ever had to provide negative feedback to someone? If so, how did it go? Did you have any sort of strategy when you did this? Did you learn anything from this experience?

Answer 1

Yes, I have received negative feedback about my performance many times. The feebback was conveyed to me in a very insulting and judgemental way and included personal remarks. Ther feedback could have been given in a better way.  While providing feeedback one should never use words such as "should, ought, must and have to". The feedback needs to be focused on performance and not on personality. The feedback should be specific and not general. The feedback should be given in a private way.

Yes, I had to provide negative feedback to some of my colleagues and I used the aforementioned tricks which I learned in behavioural skills classes. I learned that not using obligatory words and being nonjudgmental while providing negative feedback is helpfull and does not bother the receiver.