Podcast: How to Give Feedback That’s Actually Helpful
Skip to content
Insight Unpacked Season 3: Can We Still Build a Green Economy? | Listen
A magazine of research and ideas from the
faculty of the Kellogg School of Management
Podcast: How to Give Feedback That’s Actually Helpful
itunes download
Leadership Jan 30, 2020

Podcast: How to Give Feedback That’s Actually Helpful

Forget the “feedback sandwich.” On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we’ll tell you how to up your game.

Based on insights from

Ellen Taaffe

Listening: How to Give Feedback That’s Actually Helpful
download
0:00 Skip back button Play Skip forward button 9:03

What’s the best way to offer your employees and colleagues constructive criticism?

People often rely on the “sandwich technique,” squeezing in negative feedback between two helping of compliments. But Ellen Taaffe, a clinical assistant professor of leadership at Kellogg, doesn’t find this stale sandwich very appetizing. “I would caution people to be careful of using a formula to give feedback,” she says. “It’s not really authentic.”

Thankfully, there’s a better way. Taaffe shares some tips for how leaders can get better at giving and receiving feedback—and what you can do if you’re not getting any feedback at all.

Note: The Insightful Leader is produced for the ear, and not meant to be read as a transcript. We encourage you to listen to the audio version above. However, a transcript of this episode is available here.

Featured Faculty
Ellen Taaffe

Clinical Associate Professor of Management & Organizations

About the Writer
Anne Ford is a freelance writer based in Evanston, Illinois.
LinkedIn Logo Share Chain Link Link Email Printer Print Republish
Most Popular This Week
  1. 5 Traits That Set the Best Leaders Apart
    A former CEO and current executive coach discusses the tendencies of these high performers, including sharing credit and ignoring shiny objects.
  2. A Key Ingredient for Making Teams Soar
    A study of pilots breaks down rapport into several components—and identifies which is most important for effective teamwork.
  3. Building Wealth for Your Kids? These 4 Habits Can Help Prevent Entitlement
    Too many advantages can become a disadvantage.
  4. What a Legendary Winemaker Can Teach Us about Leadership
    A renowned viticulturist helped turn Portugal’s Douro Valley into one of the world’s great wine regions. His philosophy holds value beyond the vineyard.
  5. Take 5: Career Advice from the Sports World
    Kellogg faculty share lessons on how to get ahead in fiercely competitive fields.
  6. When the Fog Rolls In, Do Leaders Need a Map or a Compass?
    Some moments call for a business plan, while others call for adaptability. Here’s how to know when to lean on one or the other.
  7. Does GameStop Signal the End of Short Selling as We Know It?
    A conversation with a prominent short seller about the possible consequences of a wild week on Wall Street.
  8. Want More Voices to Be Heard? Turn Up the Warmth
    A study of business-school classrooms shows that even subtle behavioral cues can help people feel more comfortable sharing their opinions and ideas.
  9. Looking Beyond Cash to Motivate Employees
    While many companies donate to win over consumers, research shows this approach can also motivate employees more effectively than cash incentives alone.
More in Leadership
When the Fog Rolls In, Do Leaders Need a Map or a Compass?
About Us Faculty & Research Research Hub
2211 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208
insight@kellogg.northwestern.edu
LinkedIn LinkedIn Substack Substack Substack RSS
© Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern
University. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.