Research shows that employees prefer direct corrective feedback over positive feedback sandwiched between criticisms. While giving critical feedback can be intimidating for managers, employees report they are not surprised by corrective feedback and it improves performance. Workshops that teach managers to deliver feedback skillfully can promote understanding and positive change for both employees and organizations.

1. DITCH THE
FEEDBACK
SANDWICH
96% OF EMPLOYEES AGREE THAT
72% OF EMPLOYEES SAID
THEIR MANAGER WOULD
BE MORE INFLUENTIAL
BY GIVING CORRECTIVE
FEEDBACK WHEN
MISTAKES ARE MADE
Giving someone difficult feedback
can be intimidating so we tend to
sandwich it between two positive
comments. Well, as it turns out,
our research shows employees
are 11 times more likely to prefer
corrective feedback over positive
feedback.
Here’s why you just need to give it
to them straight…
GIVING CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK SHOULDN’T
BE SO DAUNTING, BUT IT IS.
ZENGERFOLKMAN.COM/ELEVATING-FEEDBACK
Since we know that people want the corrective feedback, the challenge is
to help people understand how to deliver it effectively. When delivered with
skill, feedback is a powerful tool for organizations and employees. Being
clear and direct with corrective feedback will promote specific, positive
change and clearer understanding of expectations. Zenger Folkman’s
Elevating Feedback ™ workshop provides a framework that can enable
employees at all levels of an organization to deliver difficult feedback well.
ONLY 12% OF
EMPLOYEES REPORTED
TO BE SURPRISED WHEN
GIVEN CORRECTIVE
FEEDBACK
WHICH MEANS 88% OF
EMPLOYEES ARE NOT
SUPRISED WHEN GIVEN
CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK
CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK
IMPROVES
PERFORMANCE
zengerfolkman.com | info@zengerfolkman.com | 801.705.9375 | 1213 Research Way, Bldg. Q. Suite 3500, Orem, UT 84097
©2015 Zenger FolkmanBased on Zenger Folkman survey data from over 40,000 participants