February 2012 - Issue 91 - www.clareevans.co.uk

Hello ,

I hope you've had a good start to the year.

Thanks to all of you who found the 12 Tips useful over Christmas and New Year. I'll be expanding it to 30 Tips and adding even more useful resources and info for you. I'll send out details on how to opt-in nearer the time.

Discover ways to boost your productivity and make better use of your time.  Join me for a free Teleclass - Essential Strategies For Good Time Habits, on Thursday 8th March at 7pm (GMT).

This one-hour call will give you proven key strategies and tips that will enable you to get more done in less time. Whether you want to get started, get back on track or just need a reminder.

Click here for more details and to register for the call.

If any of you happen to be in or near Ipswich, I'm delivering two Masterclasses on the 23rd March. Further details here.

Keep in touch and get extra tips from my blog - or Follow Me on Twitter - or contact me on Linked In or Facebook.

Clare

P.S. Feel free to pass this newsletter on to friends and colleagues.  Thank you.

Communicating effectively is an important part of giving feedback. Sometimes we need to have difficult conversations - whether it's with our friends, colleagues or members of your team.

We also need to give positive feedback, which tends to happen less often and can also be uncomfortable, if it's not going to sound insincere or disingenuous.

Feedback can be both positive and constructive (rather than negative) and it's important to maintain a balance, otherwise the receiver may feel they only ever receive one type from you. Try and avoid praising with one sentence and then criticizing with the next.

Develop a working environment in which feedback is welcomed. This may take time if it's not something that has been practised before. Try to give positive feedback whenever you can - this will help to build trust and make the person more comfortable when you need to give constructive feedback.

Tips for giving effective feedback:

Be timely. Don't leave it too long after the event to provide feedback. Give feedback as soon as possible otherwise the effectiveness of the feedback will be lost.

Be aware of your body language, tone and the words that you use when giving feedback.

Avoid the use of confrontational words or tone of voice. Speak calmly and clearly.

Be direct, open and honest. Avoid waffling or not being clear about what you want to say.

Consider their frame of reference - it may be different from yours, which will affect the message they receive. What are their values, attitudes and experiences? Football means two different things here in the UK and in the US.

Focus on these key areas in your conversation:

Facts. What are the facts as you see them? Describe the specific situation with facts, events and behaviours that you observed. What specifically was said or done? What impact has the action had on other people, the business or in general?

Thoughts. What are your thoughts, opinions or conclusions as a result of the action? Remember they are your thoughts so state this - "I think that ...". Link what you observed to what you think.

Feelings. How do you feel about the situation (NOT about the individual) - frustrated, disappointed, pleased - "I feel..." not "you made me feel ..."

The outcome. What is the result or outcome you want from this? What do you want to change, improve, stop or continue? Be clear about what you want so they can understand and know what they need to do to change or keep doing.

Once you have given the feedback, allow them to respond. Have they understood what you have said?   Learn to listen actively to what they say.  Summarise the conversation and if necessary put it in writing.

Constructive feedback is more difficult to give than positive feedback but both forms need to be effective.

Plan your feedback. Why are you giving feedback, when and where will you give it. It's something that could take only a few seconds or a few minutes.

Arrange a specific time when you're both free and won't be interrupted if you have something difficult to discuss. Give feedback during regular 1:1 sessions so it becomes part of the process.

If you want support and motivation to give your year the start it deserves, give me a call or book a free Strategy Session.

Until next month.