“Keep going, you’re doing great!”
Hands up if you’ve received or given this feedback at work? Keep your hand up if it was useful? No burning arms out there, I know!
This sort of feedback feels positive, even motivating. And in the moment, it’s obviously lovely to hear. But when the warm glow fades, what is someone meant to take from it? What’s “great”? And how do they build on it?
Picture the scene, we’re in Cortina at the Winter Olympics and a GB skeleton racer is hurtling down an ice track at 80mph, approaches the finish line and hears their coach shout, “Keep going, you’re doing great!” Unlikely, isn’t it? More likely they’d get precise, actionable insights: their line through corner four, the shift of weight on the sled, the milliseconds gained or lost at the start. Positive feedback, yes but grounded in something real, something they can intentionally repeat alongside some adjustments which might make it even better next time.
So, if you’re keen to do this better in your next appraisals, monthly one-to-ones with the team or less formally at the coffee point or Teams catch up consider:
For individuals
Before your next feedback conversation, take a moment to prepare. How will you get the clarity which would genuinely help you. Maybe:
What specifically worked well in how I handled that?
What should I make sure I repeat next time?
Where did you see the impact?
A simpler version could be what should I stop, start and continue?
For leaders and managers
Consider the culture of feedback in your organisation. How can you strike the balance between warm encouragement and constructive guidance that supports development and growth?
Prioritise open dialogue and listening to build strong relationships across the team.
Prepare for one-to-ones and performance reviews so you avoid using vague phrases and platitudes (see my other recent article on telling people they need to be more confident).
Get good at giving and requesting timely feedback. This can be in the moment or maybe more appropriate to develop a habit for short debriefs after major pitches, project milestones and completions.
Want a workshop on this topic for your team or organisation? Do get in touch.