The document discusses constructive feedback, outlining its purpose, types, and effective delivery methods. It emphasizes the importance of focusing on observable behaviors rather than personal attributes and recommends using the sandwich method for feedback. Additionally, it provides guidance on receiving feedback constructively, suggesting active listening and asking clarifying questions.

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Giving and Receiving
Constructive feedback
Communication Level 3
Delivered by Kim Thomas, Developed by Joelle Peters

2. Contents
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
What is constructive feedback?
Why give constructive feedback?
How to give effective constructive feedback.
The sandwich method.
How to effectively receive effective feedback.
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What are Constructive Feedback ?
Feedback is information about reactions to a product or a person's
performance of a task which may be used as a basis for improvement.
Constructive feedback is meant to help improve the performance of an
individual or a team, and shouldn’t be used to tear them down.
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Why give Constructive Feedback ?
Feedback is an essential element for everyone in a workplace. It is a
useful tool for indicating when things are going in the right direction, or
for improving an area which is having problems.
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Constructive Feedback
Some situations which require giving constructive feedback include:
• Providing specific performance pointers.
• Giving corrective guidance.
• Letting someone know the consequences of their behaviour.
• Encouraging positive behaviour.
• Encouraging and supporting someone who is doing well.
• Letting team members know when they have done something
positive.
5(Enrolment Services Training, Staff Development and the Work-Study Office, Boston
University , n.d.)

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Constructive Feedback
Some clues that constructive feedback is needed are when:
• Someone asks for your opinion about how they are doing>
• Errors occur again and again.
• A peer's work habits disturb you.
• Someone who is a high performer is doubting the level they work at.
• Someone has completed a task to high level .
• Someone has tried something new and it has gone well.
6(Enrolment Services Training, Staff Development and the Work-Study Office, Boston
University , n.d.)

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Types of constructive feedback
• Critical feedback is given when something needs to be improved.
• Positive feedback is given when something has been done well.
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How to give good Constructive Feedback
When giving Constructive Feedback , critical or positive, you should try
to do the following things:
• Focus on the situation, not the person
– Focus on the behaviour, action, situation, issue
– Comment on the issue, not the person.
– For example,“The report is late” not “You are late”, “The food is
oily” not “You are a bad cook”
– Don’t make personal attacks
– Share how a problem effects you, without going on and on about it
8(Pillay, 2015)

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How to give effective Constructive Feedback
When giving Constructive Feedback , critical or positive, you should try
to do the following things:
• Be specific with your feedback as this will allow the receiver to know
what needs to be changed, or continued
– Break feedback into key points
• Vague “You tried really hard on the report, but I didn’t like it and you can do better”
• Specific “ Good effort, but there are some things which can be improved. 1)
formatting, your font should be the same through the whole document. 2) Images,
images should always have a caption that explain what is being shown.
9(Pillay, 2015)

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How to give effective Constructive Feedback
When giving Constructive Feedback , critical or positive, you should try
to do the following things:
• Comment on things which can be done as the whole point of
feedback is to help someone improve. Think about what you can say
that a person can act on…for example
• If a friend has just signed a 12 month lease on a flat that is cold, and they
ask for your advice about how to keep warm saying “move to a warmer flat”
is not helpful because the lease has been signed. Things they could do
could be “Use a dehumidifier once a week”, “dry your laundry outside”, or
“Open the curtains during the day” are all things that can be done.
10(Pillay, 2015)

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How to give effective Constructive Feedback
When giving Constructive Feedback , critical or positive, you should try
to do the following things:
• Give the feedback as close as possible to the event as delivering
feedback close to the time will help ensure everyone remembers
what is being discussed.
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How to give effective Constructive Feedback
When giving Constructive Feedback , critical or positive, you should try
to do the following things:
• Give feedback face-to-face as this helps develop a connection and
make people feel more valued and it allows for questions and clarity.
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How to give effective Constructive Feedback
When giving Constructive Feedback , critical or positive, you should try
to do the following things:
• Focus on the situation and not the person.
• Be specific with your feedback.
• Comment on things which can be done.
• Give feedback as close as possible to the time.
• Give feedback face-to-face.
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How to give effective Constructive Feedback
A good way to give constructive feedback is using the sandwich
method, it combines giving positive and critical feedback. It’s sometimes
referred to as PIP, Positive- Improvement - Positive.
Broken down into three segments
1. Focus on some strengths – what has be done well, what was
positive about the situation?
2. Provide the criticism – things that didn’t go well, things that could be
improved.
3. Finish off the feedback by restating the positive comments, and the
positive results that may be expected if the criticism is acted on.
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Constructive Feedback
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Positive
Positive
Improvement

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How to effectively receive Constructive Feedback
Sometimes constructive feedback, particularly critical feedback can take us by
surprise. When receiving feedback try the following:
1. Consider your first reaction try not to be defensive or brush it off and try be calm
and listen.
2. Remember the benefits of getting feedback.
3. Listen actively.
4. Say thank you – thanking someone doesn’t mean you’re agreeing with what
they’re saying, but acknowledges the effort they took to share
5. Ask questions to help understand the feedback For Example,“How do you think
this could be done differently in the future?”
16(Lindsay, n.d.)

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Constructive Feedback Practical
Exercise one:
• In groups of three we will practise giving and receiving both positive and critical
feedback using the scenarios on the handouts.
• Everyone will get a turn to give feedback, receive feedback, and observe the
process
Exercise two:
• In your teams from last week, give each other feedback based on how they
performed during the kawakawa balm exercise.
17(Lindsay, n.d.)

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References
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• Enrolment Services Training, Staff Development and the Work-Study Office, Boston
University . (n.d.). Giving Constructive Feedback . Retrieved from
https://www.cabrillo.edu/services/jobs/pdfs/giving-feedback.pdf
• Lindsay, N. (n.d.). taking constructive criticism like a champ. Retrieved from
themuse.com: https://www.themuse.com/advice/taking-constructive-criticism-like-a-
champ
• Pillay, N. (2015, April 9). Linkedin.com. Retrieved from how to give constructive criticism
6 helpful tips : https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-give-constructive-criticism-6-
helpful-tips-nishlan-pillay