There may be times when you notice that someone is not abiding by professional conduct, fulfilling roles or expectations, or acting disrespectfully to others. We value treating others with respect. However, there may be times when you feel like someone is disrespectful towards you. For example, what if you find that your coworker is trying to purchase concert tickets online during your virtual 1 on 1? What if you were trying to get constructive feedback on your work, but your coworker seems apathetic and provides shallow comments? In these situations, you may need to provide feedback that may sound “negative” to them. However, Colere believes that giving and receiving such feedback, if done right, are avenues for direct and open communication, helping strengthen your relationships. There may be hesitations in providing feedback, but conflicts are normal to have, especially when you are working towards innovation.

You don’t have to provide the perfect feedback or wait till the perfect moment. You can try to provide feedback as soon as you notice the need. If you miss that opportunity, you can use other reflection opportunities.

Providing Feedback It’s important to understand that some level of trusting relationship becomes the foundation for providing feedback. If you had opportunities to interact with the person before you share your feedback, get to know them a little better every time. It also helps if you provide any acknowledgments on a daily basis - anything that you find positive about that person.

Before you provide any feedback, we stress the importance to imagine what the other person is going through. Think about any reasons why and how that person is acting that way. We also recommend thinking about the following before you provide feedback:

1. What is the cause and why do you want to share this feedback?
2. What specific actions can this person take after they hear your feedback?
3. What could this person be going through that you may not know of?

After you put thought on the above carefully, think about how you want to provide feedback:

1. Don’t blame them for their past actions. Provide feedback that helps them think about what they can do to improve themselves.
2. Don’t use round-about language. Be simple and to the point.
3. Avoid generalizing what you think happened. Make sure you are prepared to provide details from a specific situation that you observed.
4. Allow for a conversation instead of a one-way monologue so that the person can ensure they understand your feedback and learn from it.

Receiving Feedback

1. Keep an open mind: It’s natural that we all, as human beings, tend to get defensive or to make excuses when receiving feedback or requesting a change in behavior. However, consider that the person providing feedback has good intentions to help you grow. If they are apathetic, they are less likely to provide any kind of feedback to you. The person providing feedback may have gone through some hesitations before trying to reach you, so welcome the feedback as a gift with gratitude.