Honest feedback is one of the more valuable tools we have for self-improvement. Yet, it is a catch-22, according to Mel Robbins. Researchers from the University of Michigan and the Gottman Institute concluded that in order to keep a relationship or work team performing well, five or six positive interactions were needed for each criticism or negative interaction.
Source: Success, January 26, 2017.
Criticism, when delivered thoughtfully, helps teams perform better and helps people improve their behavior. It also wakes people up and makes them realize they can’t be complacent. Robbins shares these tips for delivering criticism:
- Think about your motives
- Never attack the person
- Deliver one piece of criticism at a time
INSIGHTS: When it is time for criticism and to remain constructive, think about using a triangulation approach. AHD contributor Patrick Malone discussed triangulating without using the pronoun “you” in Triangulating negative responses, Vet Advantage, December 2015.