Leadership Development: Understanding the Benefits of Constructive Criticism
Many managers go out of their way to avoid giving negative feedback to members of their team. They do so because they believe these conversations will make people upset or uncomfortable.
If you are one of those managers, I have a little bit of constructive criticism for you. You need to start having those conversations, even if they feel slightly awkward at first. If you want your employees to succeed in their roles, they need to understand where they are falling short. If they don’t, they can’t improve. In this sense, it is unfair not to provide constructive feedback.
Of course, I’m not suggesting you begin browbeating your team. Berating people is never a good idea. Instead, I recommend approaching constructive criticism conversations in the spirit of, “I want to see you succeed. Here’s what I believe you need to do differently to get there.”
Your workers might feel a bit uncomfortable, but they will appreciate your honesty and your desire to help. But don’t just take my word for it. Look at the statistics:
57 percent of workers prefer corrective feedback over praise or recognition.
72 percent of workers believe their performance would improve if their manager provided them with constructive criticism.
92 percent of workers think that negative feedback (if delivered appropriately) is effective at improving performance.
So, take a moment to think. Do you have an employee who may benefit from a little constructive criticism? If so, what is the best way to have that difficult conversation with them?
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About The Author
Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business world and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense.
Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.