Tips for Difficult Feedback

Giving difficult feedback is not always easy. Here are eleven tips to keep in mind when you are faced with correcting an individual. 
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1. Make it timely. Don't wait to give difficult feedback. Give it as close to the time you observed the behavior as possible.
2. Calm down before correcting. Emotion laden feedback begs an emotional response. 
3. Focus on behaviour, not hearsay or assumptions.
4. Prepare for the feedback session.
5. Be clear and direct. Make your messages straight forward, not convoluted or confusing.
6. Engage the other person and listen. Ask for the the person's side of the story.
7. Acknowledge differences in perception. 
8. Reach a solution without arguing. Reaching a solution is not an "I win-you lose" proposition. 
9. Review and recap the conversation.
10. Introduce consequences and follow-up strategy if necessary.
11. End on a positive note.

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