The Redirect
Is better than criticism
Nobody’s perfect.
But if we criticize one of our people for making a mistake, we might demotivate them so severely that they stop even trying to get things done. So what do we need to do to communicate with people who did something poorly?
Discuss the issue, not the person. For example: “THIS needs to be revised” rather than “YOU did it wrong.”
Adopt a “First Draft” mentality. Assume that work will not be done perfectly the first time when you assign it. Set a delivery time for the draft, and go through it with your team member to discuss how to polish it up to be ready to go to the client. Use that revision discussion to grow their skills, so that, after a couple of these learning experiences, the “draft” they bring will be client-ready.
Give them templates, examples, checklists, or instructional manuals they can follow. Set your people up for success by giving them resources they can use to make sure they are on the right track. If the draft they bring does not resemble the template, walk through the process together to trouble-shoot what went wrong and get them back on track.
(Photo by Randy Laybourne on Unsplash)