Next up: Erin Casali covers how to give and get feedback in The Craft of Feedback.
Because this year I used Twitter’s threading / topics feature, it’s giving me 2 tweets in each embed I do here. I’m embedding every other tweet for readability. There’s a PDF at the bottom of the page in case this all collapses.
✩ Poor or unstructured feedback can hurt good work and wreck team morale. But delivered with the right principles, feedback can be a positive force for change. Erin @Folletto Casali shares how as #AEAOT Fall Summit Day 2 rolls on.@AnEventApart @AListApart #design pic.twitter.com/8CYxC4r1I9
— zeldman (@zeldman) October 12, 2021
In both scenarios the feedback worked, but people will return to their average, even as their average is growing. #aeaot pic.twitter.com/MS3JfZVtLg
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
high performing teams share nearly six times more positive feedback than average teams – Christine Porath, HBR #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Content: one framework is
observation + impact + question = actionable feedback.Observation is non-judgmental. What would a camera see? #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
You could provide a request – “this is what I’d like you to do” or “this is the preferred approach”.
Or provide a question – “how can we solve x?”
Request is prescriptive, question is an open way to present feedback. #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Tone: the receptivity equation
Timing + attitude + form = respectful feedback
If the receiver is not framed to accept your feedback it’s not going to go through.
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
If you’re talking with someone about a presentation, don’t wait too long that you both begin to forget what the presentation experience was.
But also, don’t kill a “win” moment. Allow to enjoy success *then* give the feedback.
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Rude is NOT a synonym of Sincere.
You don’t need to be brutal.
Don’t be as rude as possible.
Critical feedback is hard to receive even when you’re compassionate.
Don’t make power plays. #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Between people there are differences in communication protocol, negotiation, language nuances, cultural differences, and trip words.
Trip words are the words that someone else has a bad experience with, you might not know that it’s going to trip up the conversation #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Communications from highest (least miscommunication) to lowest (most miscommunication:
Video call
Voice call
Private chat
Public chat
Asynchronous messageIf you think there’s miscommunication, go up a level.
Honor discomfort with video chat. #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Give context to your feedback. That doesn’t mean serve a shit sandwich.
#aeaot— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Don’t make it personal. Swap “you” for “this”. This choice, this strategy, this behavior #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Tag your feedback with the four emojis:
🟥blocking issue
🔶should be changed
🟢positive confirmation
🌀we should explore, discuss, i’m unsure— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
The worst possible way to ask for feedback is “any feedback?”
[Guilty as charged.]
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
No generic words – good, well, nice, bad, ok, cool.
[In writing we call them weasel words.]
Can you replace them with something more specific when you ask for feedback? #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Iteration posts provide both transparency and a set of snapshots of the work as it goes. (Feedback can still happen in between iteration posts.) This stable rhythm can give the team a way to iterate effectively. Also allows you to track decisions.#aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Iteration posts are also about the discussion in the post.
Iterations don’t have to be complete. You don’t have to wait until the whole thing is done.
[In fact, don’t.]
They can be about unblocking you when you’re stuck. #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
Review:
Breathe. What you get may be challenging and tough to receive. (Also true in life.)Approach it like research. We can apply our research skills to feedback. That mindset can be super useful.
Collcet, summarize, review.
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
You don’t have to answer everyone.
Not all feedback is equal.
BUT acknowledge the people who gave you feedback as people and the value they bring to you.
If you’re feeling defensive, remember that people value that you listened and acknowledged them. #aeaot
— Anne Gibson (@perpendicularme) October 12, 2021
For more of @folletto’s wisdom on today’s topic, check her @AListApart articles:⁰⁰
Asynchronous Design Critique: Giving Feedback https://t.co/vobeCqwrTK
Asynchronous Design Critique: Getting Feedback https://t.co/GqldkE7MaD #AEAOT
— zeldman (@zeldman) October 12, 2021
Here’s a PDF of this post (which might not be accessible because I’m using print-to-PDF to generate it, my apologies) in case Twitter kicks it and all the tweets disappear. An Event Apart OT 2021 The Craft of Feedback by Erin Casali – Perpendicular Angel Design