IS YOUR FEEDBACK ACHIEVING CHANGE?

Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger. This idea came about because of the author′s involvement in a major training programme, to develop improved communications and sales skills for new employees, in a major UK group operating in the financial sector. Whilst working with this company, he became aware that the mechanisms for giving feedback paid little attention to the needs of programme recipients, or to the context in which the feedback was provided. To address these deficiencies, he started to read more of the material available in this area, and this led him to the conclusion that few of the training programmes he had worked on, in his formative years as a trainer and developer, provided effective feedback. Suggests a model which makes a clear distinction between positive and negative feedback, and between receiving feedback information directly (direct or intrinsic feedback) and indirectly(indirect or extrinsic feedback). Hopes to stimulate debate amongst fellow developers working in this area.