The secret to giving great feedback
LeeAnn Renninger - TED
Cognitive psychologist LeeAnn Renninger shares a four-part formula for feedback that people actually hear and act on.
Key takeaways
- Open with a micro-yes question so the other person is ready to listen.
- Give specific data points, not vague blur words.
- Explain the impact, then ask a question to start a dialogue.
Reflect on it
- What blur words did I use in the last feedback I gave?
- How could I turn my next piece of feedback into a two-way conversation?
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Most of us were never taught how to give feedback. LeeAnn Renninger studied the people who do it well and found they follow the same four steps.
Why it is worth 5 minutes
It is short enough to watch before your next one-to-one or appraisal, and the formula is easy to remember under pressure.
The key points
- The micro-yes: ask a short question first, such as "Do you have a few minutes for some ideas on that report?"
- The data point: name exactly what you saw, not blur words like "unprofessional" or "great".
- The impact statement: explain how it affected you, the team or the work.
- The question: finish by asking what they think, so it becomes a conversation.
Where to go next
Put it into practice with our guides on constructive feedback in performance reviews and how to conduct performance reviews.
Turn it into CPD
Watch the talk, then answer the reflection questions under the video and log it to your free Passport.
Add this to your CPD log
Sign in to save what you've read - we'll create a free CPD log for you.