Thursday, November 6, 2014

A631.3.4.RB. - Feedback and Goals

I have learned over time that before you analyze an issue, you must have an understanding or acceptable definition of the issue.  For this task, the terms are feedback and goals (as related to employees).  Feedback means letting someone know in a timely manner and on an ongoing basis how they are performing, and it includes both positive and negative observations (Biswal, 2013). As an educator or as a coach, providing feedback becomes a skill that you comprehend very well.  You must know when to provide instant feedback and when to provide a long in-depth feedback to individuals.  The same process applies to how you set goals for individuals to achieve.  In his book “An Experimental Approach to Organizational Development”, Brown (2011) discusses that any one born after 1980 requires more feedback than those born before that date.  The textbook highlights the generational implications regarding the amount of feedback; specifically “GEN Y” verses older generations and their desire for more feedback.

I personally feel that most leaders do not understand the value of providing feedback or setting the right type of goals for employees and for students in the academic arena.  For the business community, I feel feedback is without a doubt one of the biggest developmental tools leaders can use today.  Good feedback provides a measurable value to the organization and its employees. This is the same for setting goals. 

It seems obvious that setting goals should be based on achievable outcomes, but from a personal perspective I have learned through research and experience that these goals should be tangible and doable (Mitchell, 2014).  Often leaders forget the simplest formula for setting goals: SMART…

·         Specific – target a specific area for improvement.

·         Measurable – quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress.

·         Assignable – specify who will do it.

·         Realistic – state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources.

·         Time-related – specify when the result(s) can be achieved.

When you add the SMART process with real-time feedback it enhances the opportunity for employees (especially the newer generations of employees) to become better performers and to achieve the goals you set for them.  I think one of the biggest reasons there are generational differences between employees is because of competition in the workplace and workforce today. The goal-setting theory posits that people who set goals perform more effectively than those who do not set goals no matter what generation they belong to (Merritt & Berger, 1998).

For me personally, I am not sure to what degree I require feedback, but make no mistake; I do need it.  When the situation arises in which I receive no feedback or poor feedback, I begin to question the credibility of the instructor or the supervisor.  As Brown would explain, maybe this has something to do with me fitting into that baby boomer category.  Don’t get me wrong, I want feedback; I just want it from a person who knows what they are doing and from someone whom I feel has credibility.  I desire targeted feedback and SMART goal setting.  This process has provided me with an excellent high performance work history.  When I receive good feedback I feel that supervisors value me and respect me if they are taking the time to provide feedback that I feel is meaningful, and constructive, whether it is good or bad.  Whether it's your direct report, a boss, a co-worker, or a fellow team member on a project, constructive feedback can be very useful for enhancing relationships and performance (Russell, 2012).  For me, feedback should be a continuous program for employee improvement for all stakeholders to share information about an individual’s performance.  Feedbacks allow a means for individuals to build on the things they are good at and improve on the things they are not so good at.
 
Biswal, S. (Apr 2013).  Feedback , Please.  International Journal of Management, IT and Engineering. (4)

 
Clung, B. G. (Oct 1997): Collecting and using employee feedback. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant


 Merritt, E. & Berger, F. (Feb 1998). The value of setting goals. ornell Hotel and Restaurant


Mitchell, C. (Jun 2014). Being SMART with NRM Performance Goals.  Australasian Science (35) 48.


Russell, J. E. (Mar 2012) Tips for providing employee feedback, The Washington Post (19).26.


 

 

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