5 Simple Ways to Deliver Effective Feedback

3 min readJun 15, 2023

When employees are working under your supervision, it often takes effort to figure out what to tell your team and what not to do. You can’t hurt their sentiments or disrespect them. At the same time, you cannot let them go easy on every mistake they make. It’s a very fine line that you have to walk.

I was having a conversation with Rajiv Talreja on my podcast Figuring Out. During this, we had an intense discussion on the importance of a healthy work culture. Your work culture is an extension of who you are as a person. When the environment is hostile, it cannot nurture talent and positivity and will hinder the company’s growth. Communication with your employees should be direct, so here are a few ways to give effective feedback to employees.

1. Understanding the importance of feedback

Feedback doesn’t necessarily mean that the receiver has done something wrong. And it should not happen once a year before your appraisal. It should be a conversation that occurs daily. Positive feedback to employees is a mode of development.

Sometimes, employers provide feedback in sandwich methods where positive feedback is cushioned between negative ones. This method is effective. But do not talk down to your team, and give them the room to reflect on the consequences of their action.

2. In-person feedback

One of the ways to provide effective feedback is face-to-face. Avoid using emails or texts as means of feedback. While reading the news, one assumes the tone of the message in their mind. But maybe you meant it to sound different than that, which will lead to a misunderstanding.

Find a quiet space to have an informal but honest one-on-one conversation with the employee. If it is impossible, try to do it over video chat.

3. Keep it private

One of the most essential principles of providing positive feedback to employees is not making it public. Don’t bring it up in group meetings or in front of superiors, no matter how severe the problem is. Feedback isn’t just uncomfortable for the receiver; it can also be uncomfortable for the giver.

Do not bring it up when everyone is hanging out or at an office party, as it can ruin the mood of the evening, further affecting the mental health of your employees.

4. Make it a conversation

Do not just go about speaking. Wait for the other person to reply. Otherwise, it would be like talking to a wall. Give them time for an explanation or to ask you any follow-up questions.

Your employee will also get an opportunity to express their ideas to you. You can reach a solution or pinpoint the problem sooner.

5. Don’t make it personal

Calling your employees your family and treating them accordingly is not the best idea. So, never talk about personal attributes during feedback sessions. To give effective feedback, make sure you focus on their work alone.

You may not like them or have a personal grudge against them, which should not reflect in your feedback. Instead of calling someone arrogant, share how you think it would be better if the person cooperated with the team.

You really cannot go far if you want to dominate your employees. Because too many restrictions will lead to rebellion. Build a pack so that they can take bullets for each other. Think of yourself as their mentor rather than a boss. That will make the job easier to give effective feedback to your employees.

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