How Do You Provide Regular Feedback to Your Staff?

What does it take to send you down a path of inquiry? It doesn't take much for me: a question; an interaction;  an unexpected outcome; or even a comment to a post can get me going down that path. Almost always, it is something that catches me off guard.

I posted a post here.  The post was about the kid's second grade teacher and the"gold slip" method she was trying to redirect the children in her class to the tasks at hand. Ron Ulrici posted a comment here and said:

I prefer positive reinforcement when the “good” behavior is witnessed. A good manager I used to know would always sit down with each person in his department once a week without fail and tell them the great things they did during the week and the areas where they could have done better. His people were always top performers and his performance appraisals were simply recaps of his weekly meetings.

My ego went into high gear and I began spinning through the defenses of who has the time (too busy, sigh), my staff know their work is appreciated, chocolate can right all wrongs, the manager who can do that must simply be way too overstaffed, etc.  Ron's comment caught me off guard. I consider myself a good leader but was I?  I started to reply a few times that night but did not. I did not respond until the next day.   

My reply did not end my inquiry. The regular, developmental interaction Ron referenced is something that I know, in my core, is just what each member of my staff would benefit from as individuals and team members. The timing is right for the team. The timing is right for me. I have people to lead and tasks to accomplish and I experience a continual tension between the two.  Time and time again, the tasks win out and something needs to change. Is it my perspective or priorities? My staffing level? Or something else?

For those that have been able to do this with any degree of success and satisfaction, what has worked for you?

Comments

[HR Maven]

I can't do it every week. The tyranny of the urgent is far too great.

I try in our 1-1s to review and provide some quick positive feedback.. I have altered our PDPs to add quarterly meetings where we sit down and review what's going really well and where we need help. These become my annual PDPs for the year. Works for us quite well. :)

[Lisa Rosendahl]

That "tyranny of the urgent" would have been a great title for this post! Darn, why didn't I think of that :)

[Wally Bock]

I think there's a danger in making these feedback sessions too formal and programmatic. And I think that weekly is not nearly close to often enough. Here's what I found in my research into how great supervisors worked.

The first key is to strive to make expectations crystalline. That happens in a formal session where you offer direction and guidance and check for feedback. If you don't do this, it's impossible to do the rest.

You show up (or touch base) a lot. That's the behavior that set great supervisors apart. That behavior sets up lots of short informal conversations where you can coach, counsel, encourage and correct. Those conversations should happen many times a day. In fact, every time to come in contact with a team member, it's an occasion for a supervisory conversation.

[Lisa Rosendahl]

I like the approach of many, mini supervisory connections. Thanks Wally.

[Wally Bock]

Improves performance. Limits paperwork. What could be more grand? :-)

[Dan McCarthy]

Lisa –
I have 1 on 1s with each member of my team (10 direct reports) for one hour every two weeks. I don’t always remember to do it, but when I ask “so tell me about any recent wins”, it provides opportunities for feedback. I can listen, ask questions, and reinforce.
I’ve never tired asking for recent screw-ups though – it would probably feel like going to confession.