Feedback on Communication: 8 Tips for Effective Feedback

Feedback on communication is the practice of letting someone know they can improve their communication skills. Offering effective feedback on communication is an essential leadership skill. It allows you to help your individual team members improve their ability to express their needs and concerns and interface with clients, stakeholders, and outside vendors.

Here are some tips on how to offer empathetic, constructive communication feedback to team members to help them improve their interpersonal skills:

1. 1. Acknowledge competencies in addition to areas for improvement. Constructive criticism can indicate areas of potential improvement, but it’s also important to let your team know what things they’re doing well. Positive feedback creates a warmer, more supportive environment, reinforces and continues successful behaviors, and creates more space for honest, open communication.
2. 2. Avoid relying exclusively on formal communication channels. Many workplaces offer formal feedback venues, like quarterly or yearly performance reviews, to give team leaders an arena to offer feedback. While these formal communication processes are valuable, avoid relying on them as the only time you offer feedback. Consistent formal and informal feedback helps employees develop their skills.
3. 3. Choose the right time. Offer feedback in a timely manner, but first, consider the situation. If two of your team members had a verbal argument, wait until they have time to cool down before talking to them about how to improve their interpersonal communication skills.
4. 4. Frame criticism positively. When you offer constructive feedback to your team members, use positive framing to show that it’s an opportunity for growth rather than a vehicle for embarrassment or disappointment. Offer feedback that encourages a growth mindset; for example, “I think you’d see even more success if you spent more time using active listening.”
5. 5. Include specific examples. When offering feedback, support your general statements with specific, concrete examples. For example, mention a particular phrase or tone a team member used that missed the mark on the desired effect. Without this specificity, you may leave them guessing about what went wrong or how they can improve.
6. 6. Incorporate one-on-ones. While team meetings can be great for offering general tips, the most effective venue for feedback is a direct, face-to-face chat with each individual on your team. One-on-ones allow you to offer personalized feedback tailored to each individual, and your team members might feel more comfortable asking questions in a smaller meeting rather than in a group setting.
7. 7. Model the skills you want them to use. Leading by example can be an effective way to help your team members improve their communication skills. Ensure you follow the principles you recommend and serve as a consistent demonstration of the effective communication you’d like your team to embody. This includes nonverbal communication and body language, too.
8. 8. Remember to follow up. The most effective way to help someone improve is to offer feedback and then follow up on it later, letting them know you’re paying attention and have noticed their hard work. When you see a team member implementing feedback you’ve given, compliment them and encourage them to keep up the good work. In the same vein, if you notice a team member ignoring the feedback you’ve given, chat with them one-on-one to see what obstacles they’re facing.

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