381. The Art of Effective Feedback w/ Therese Huston

In episode 381 of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer interviews Dr. Therese Huston, a cognitive scientist and author of Let's Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower. Therese's expertise in cognitive psychology and her personal experiences with feedback inspired her to provide insights into giving effective feedback in various contexts. She shares stories emphasizing the power dynamics and emotional impact of feedback, highlighting the need for thoughtfulness and empathy in delivering feedback.

The episode delves into the importance of specific feedback, regular evaluation, and the positive impact feedback can have on employee development. Therese's discussion on the three types of feedback that employees need—appreciation, coaching, and evaluation—provides a valuable framework for managers and leaders to improve employee growth and performance. Her emphasis on the significance of being specific about feedback type and offering regular evaluation aligns with the audience's goal of enhancing workplace feedback practices. The episode offers practical advice and actionable strategies, making it essential listening for managers and leaders seeking to improve their feedback delivery skills.

In this episode:

• Learn to deliver effective feedback for enhanced employee growth and performance.
• Understand the types of feedback crucial for driving employee development and success.
• Discover the significance of specific feedback in fostering employee improvement and motivation.
• Master the art of siding with individuals during feedback sessions for impactful communication.
• Explore the power of asking questions as a tool for guiding employees toward growth and proficiency.

00:00:00 - Introduction Dr. Therese Huston is introduced as a cognitive scientist and author of Let's Talk. She shares her background and experience as a writer and cognitive scientist, as well as her interest in giving effective feedback. 00:03:08 - The Importance of Good Feedback Therese shares a pivotal moment in her career where she received poorly delivered feedback, leading to her interest in helping others give better feedback. She highlights the impact of feedback on the receiver and the power dynamic between the giver and receiver of feedback. 00:10:25 - Impact of Framing and Setup Melina shares a personal story about receiving a vague and anxiety-inducing message from her boss, highlighting the importance of the framing and setup of feedback conversations. The discussion emphasizes the impact of small thoughtful gestures in feedback delivery. 00:12:29 - Types of Feedback Therese discusses the three types of feedback: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation, as outlined by Stone and Heen in their book Thanks for the Feedback. Each type of feedback is explained, focusing on the different purposes and challenges associated with giving each type. 00:14:03 - Evaluative Feedback The conversation delves into evaluative feedback, the least often given type of feedback, and its importance in letting employees know where they stand in terms of performance and impact. The challenges and significance of delivering evaluative feedback are highlighted. 00:14:30 - Employee Feedback Needs Therese discusses the three types of feedback employees need: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation. She emphasizes the importance of being specific about the type of feedback required. 00:16:39 - Asking for Feedback Therese provides advice on how managers can gauge the type of feedback employees want, suggesting open-ended questions and scheduling dedicated feedback sessions. 00:21:02 - Importance of Feedback Therese highlights the positive impact of giving employees feedback on where they stand relative to expectations, leading to career mentoring and a sense of reassurance. 00:24:40 - Me vs. We Strengths Therese introduces the concept of "me strengths" and "we strengths," emphasizing the importance of acknowledging both types of strengths in employees and providing opportunities for them to utilize these strengths. 00:27:00 - Acknowledging Impact Therese underlines the significance of acknowledging employees' "we strengths" and the impact they have on the team's performance, encouraging supervisors to provide support and recognition for these strengths. 00:27:37 - Recognizing Strengths Therese and Melina discuss the importance of acknowledging and recognizing both "me strengths" and "we strengths" in a team. They emphasize the value of asking team members about their strengths and how it can lead to a more empowered and supportive work environment. 00:28:21 - Uncovering Hidden Strengths Therese shares the idea of uncovering hidden "me strengths" in team members and how these strengths can potentially turn into "we strengths." She gives an example of someone who excels in persuading others, which is both a personal strength and a team strength. 00:31:08 - Siding wi...