Feedback is a key element to avoid communication issues and clarify misunderstandings. Your dialog partner can take the opportunity to express themselves about their perception of the discussion (at various levels). However, there are specific rules which you should observe when giving and receiving feedback.

1. Never give feedback on feedback!
2. Feedback is unbiased and serves only to describe the communication as such.
3. Feedback should be concrete and refer to a specific situation or particular facts.
4. Only relevant aspects are useful. Feedback should only refer to behavior that can really be changed.
5. Feedback only serves as information on what is triggered off by communication; it doesn't serve to commission new tasks.
6. Before giving feedback: Make sure that your dialog partner is ready to listen to and accept your feedback. In the best case a dialog partner asks for a response in the form of feedback.
7. Feedback should never be used to cast a better light on yourself or to discredit your counterpart.

Author

Stéphane Etrillard Management Institute SECS Schloss Elbroich - Am Falder 4 D-40589 Düsseldorf Phone: +49 – (0) 211 - 757 07 40 Fax: +49 – (0) 211 - 75 00 53 info@etrillard.com