Giving feedback

Just because leadership feedback is positive doesn't mean it's helpful.

Giving feedback, particularly constructive feedback, is often a stressful task. As counterintuitive as it may seem, giving feedback to a top performer can be even tougher. Top performers may not have obvious development needs and in identifying those needs, you can sometimes feel like you’re being nitpicky or over-demanding. In addition, top performers may not […]

Asking an employee to write a self-appraisal using the company’s appraisal form is a common performance management practice. It’s a deceptively attractive technique. An employee’s self-appraisal and rating should give the manager valuable data on the quality of an individual’s performance. It previews what to expect when the two sit down to discuss the manager’s […]

Why you have to listen before you criticize.

Tailor your approach to experience levels.

When the economy is slow and unemployment rates are high, it’s easy to think your employees will happily stay put in their current jobs. But that’s a dangerous assumption. Research shows that voluntary turnover rates increase as consumer confidence builds. This means, as a manager, you need to figure out ways to retain your top […]

It’s about dignity, fairness, and restoration — not blame.

Some people just can’t make up their minds. The same goes for some companies. Leaders can eradicate indecision by transforming the tone and content of everyday conversations at their organizations.

Last night, American Idol gave eight contestants another shot at becoming a star. All of the evening’s young singers had failed to make it through in previous rounds, and this “wild card” show provided a second — and final — chance. One performer I watched with special interest was Jesse Langseth, the red-headed chanteuse whose […]

Yes. There are good reasons to differentiate between how you treat people. If you do it right, you’ll see the results in improved organizational performance. by Lauren Keller Johnson

“Great job!” is not helpful.

Managers who want to recognize employees for good work have many tools at their disposal. One of the more traditional ways to reward a top performer is to give her a promotion or raise or both. But how can you know whether someone is truly ready for the next challenge or deserving of that bump […]

How to respond when an employee messes up.

When I was in graduate school, Phil Daniels, then a psychology professor at Brigham Young University, taught us about a feedback mechanism he called the SKS form. It was simply a process whereby we would ask others what we should stop (S), keep (K), and start (S) doing, given a particular role we might have […]

Expert advice to help you diffuse tension and refocus on shared goals.

Pristine data are great for computers. But when it comes to people, messy inputs make for the best decisions.

A wise reaction can undo much of the damage.

It's time for this management fad to end.

It's performance review season, and you know the drill. Drag each of your direct reports into a conference room for a one-on-one, hand them an official-looking...

After graduating from Harvard Business School with highest honors, Jane rapidly moved up the corporate ladder at a large advertising firm, racking up...

A "Washington Post" Bestseller. Your manual for remote and virtual work. Communicating virtually is cool, useful, and now even more ubiquitous and necessary...

Is your message getting through? The right communication tactics can motivate your people--and fuel your business. Get more of the ideas you want, from...

Master the art of delivering feedback. Whether you're dealing with a problem employee or praising the good work of a colleague, you need to communicate...

This 16-volume, specially priced boxed set makes a perfect gift for aspiring leaders looking for trusted advice on such diverse topics as data analytics,...

The "HBR Women at Work" series, based on the popular HBR podcast of the same name, spotlights the real challenges and opportunities women experience throughout...

Take the stress out of giving feedback. To help your employees meet their goals and fulfill their potential, you need to provide them with regular feedback....

Master the art of effective delegation. You know you need to delegate some of your work so that you have time to focus on the things that require your...

This chart can be used to help students reflect on and document their feedback conversations. In the course of giving or receiving feedback, we often...

A year's worth of management wisdom, all in one place. We've reviewed the ideas, insights, and best practices from the past year of Harvard Business Review...

Is your message getting through? The right communication tactics can motivate your people--and fuel your business. Get more of the ideas you want, from...

This 16-volume, specially priced boxed set makes a perfect gift for aspiring leaders who are short on time but need advice fast, on topics from creating...

Private equity firm XAF Partners, created out of the 2003 merger of Shanghai-based Xuan Partners and AF Group, a spin out of the Shanghai-based, emerging...

A year's worth of management wisdom, all in one place. We've reviewed the ideas, insights, and best practices from the past year of Harvard Business Review...

How do you tell one of your direct reports that she stinks? This case explores the dynamics behind having difficult conversations, and giving and receiving...

Do you have an employee whose performance keeps deteriorating--despite your close monitoring? Brace yourself: You may be at fault--by unknowingly triggering...

Wolfgang Keller, manager of the Ukrainian subsidiary of a German beer company, faces a managerial dilemma. His subordinate, Dmitri Brodsky, is a talented...

If you read nothing else on managing people, read these definitive articles from Harvard Business Review. Managing people is fraught with challenges,...

Performance management is changing. Adapt your approach along with it. For decades, performance management has been seen as an annual chore by managers...

A year's worth of management wisdom, all in one place. We've reviewed the ideas, insights, and best practices from the past year of Harvard Business Review...

Just because leadership feedback is positive doesn't mean it's helpful.

Giving feedback, particularly constructive feedback, is often a stressful task. As counterintuitive as it may seem, giving feedback to a top performer can be even tougher. Top performers may not have obvious development needs and in identifying those needs, you can sometimes feel like you’re being nitpicky or over-demanding. In addition, top performers may not […]

Asking an employee to write a self-appraisal using the company’s appraisal form is a common performance management practice. It’s a deceptively attractive technique. An employee’s self-appraisal and rating should give the manager valuable data on the quality of an individual’s performance. It previews what to expect when the two sit down to discuss the manager’s […]

A "Washington Post" Bestseller. Your manual for remote and virtual work. Communicating virtually is cool, useful, and now even more ubiquitous and necessary...

Is your message getting through? The right communication tactics can motivate your people--and fuel your business. Get more of the ideas you want, from...

Why you have to listen before you criticize.

Tailor your approach to experience levels.

When the economy is slow and unemployment rates are high, it’s easy to think your employees will happily stay put in their current jobs. But that’s a dangerous assumption. Research shows that voluntary turnover rates increase as consumer confidence builds. This means, as a manager, you need to figure out ways to retain your top […]

It’s about dignity, fairness, and restoration — not blame.

Master the art of delivering feedback. Whether you're dealing with a problem employee or praising the good work of a colleague, you need to communicate...