If you are in middle management, you both give and receive feedback. No one enjoys receiving negative feedback, but the truth is it is often the most helpful for improving performance.
In their 2016 report on workplace feedback, researchers Francesca Gino and Paul Green, Jr. from Harvard and Bradley Staats from the University of North Carolina found that negative feedback can make people avoid you.
The study found that people who ask for feedback typically don’t need it because they are performing well. The researchers say knowing that delivering negative feedback may be off-putting, managers must consider how to deliver it so it’s not as threatening. Help employees self-evaluate and hone in themselves on areas of weakness.
Gino says it is important to be honest, specific and not make negative feedback personal.
