Managers: Question about giving positive feedback...

potbellypig · July 2014

Happy Monday!

Questions for managers about giving positive feedback to your team. I want to know how to word something so that I can tell my team that they have been doing a great job of taking over little jobs so that I can focus on "bigger" jobs to make the department stand out. However, I need to be careful...the department stands out because of initiatives I've started, things I've done, not things my employees have done; but I do NOT want to get across that the positive feedback is about what I've been doing. Thing is - I would never have the time to do these things if it wasn't for them taking more on, and that's what I want to focus on.

I want to give them positive feedback - I want to tell them of the feedback people have been giving me about the department, but I don't want it to be bragging about what I've done, even though that's what's getting the feedback. I want to focus on how these things are possible because of them taking over more work...

Any ideas on how to word it? All I can come up with is "The department is doing great because I've been able to do x, y, z because you guys have been taking over a, b, c", but I don't know if there's a better way to word it that doesn't focus on what I've done?

Does my question make sense? It's Monday and I've only had 1/2 my coffee! :P

Slb22 · July 2014

Maybe say something like “Thank you for putting in the extra effort on xyz. We have been getting great feedback from others and this is truly a team effort. “ And if individuals are taking on specific roles, call them out for it and then say something like this has allowed me to do ABC. Go team! Maybe something to that effect?

MommyAtty · July 2014

Here's what my EVP has said that I think is effective. There is work that is prominent, meaning it gets tons of attention. And there's work that is important, which means it has a huge impact on the organization but is really only noticed when it doesn't happen. Our team has been getting the right kind of attention, which means we are doing a great job. All the important work is being done because every member of this team pulls together. And the prominent work we are doing has also been noticed. But the prominent work wouldn't matter if we failed to execute the important work as well as we do.

*sparky* · July 2014

I agree with the advice you have already received. Also, I don't think you need to bring up what you have accomplished at all. I would just thank them for what they have contributed that is over and above their previous responsibilities, and say that their extra work has contributed to the overall success of the department in a noticeable way.

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