Last week, we talked about staying current with others. One part of staying current might be giving feedback to those we lead.

Some people shrink back or wince at the thought of feedback because it has not been given in a helpful or constructive way in their past.

Sometimes, managers, spouses, friends or family members use “feedback” as a façade to mask hurtful comments or jabs. However, when constructed and delivered appropriately, feedback can become a very powerful tool to help accelerate growth and build powerful team dynamics.

The science of feedback tells us that it is crucial because, without it, we cannot achieve new levels of performance.

We all must know how we are doing in order to get better. Immediate feedback is best because it helps our brains make the connection between “wrong” behavior and “right” behavior. The brain needs to know how it’s doing in order to adjust and do better.

Next week we will talk about helpful ways to give feedback to those we lead.