Monday, August 12, 2019

Positive feedback as opposed to Negative feedback


An organization that was downsizing was in a dilemma as to whom amongst their two managers would they terminate. Both had exceptional performance and both seemed to be loved by their subordinates. The top executives of the organization didn’t know whom they would give the pink slip.

Therefore, they decided to secretly conduct a survey among their employees which manager would they prefer to stay. The workers voted to retain the manager who always gives positive feedback as opposed to the manager who only knows to give negative feedback.

Hearing or receiving feedback is important in an employee’s work life. Why? For the simple reason that feedback also acts as motivator and demotivator for employees. It’s no brainer that positive feedback motivates and negative feedback seldom motivates but often downgrades employees’ motivation. It’s also no brainer that employees always lean toward the side of managers/leaders who give positive feedback more than negative feedback.

Negative feedback silently diminishes the manager/leader power to motivate. While positive feedback loudly increases the manager/leader power to motivate. However, the power of positive feedback is hardly being utilized by managers/leaders. What they utilize more is negative feedback and the reason behind is very simple: Mistakes are easily highlighted than accomplishments.

We are generally quick to spot the negative than the positive, we are prone to be blindsided by the negative than the positive. Therefore, we have to reverse this mindset of bias towards negativity to a mindset of positivity. From now on we have to be quick to notice the positive than the negative. We have to praise more than criticize we have to highlight the positive more than the negative if we want to continuously have motivated employees.  

Why? For the simple reason that your employees would love it very much if they would hear it from their leaders/managers. It also makes giving negative feedback a lot more easier when the need arises. – Marino J. Dasmarinas           

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