“Blah blah blah,” a lecturer once noted in the margin of a paper by one of the participants in the ‘Exchanging Inclusive Feedback’ workshop. Although this participant and her fellow course mates could laugh about it, it did stay with her all these years. Led by language trainer Caro Struijke, the participants learned how to exchange appropriate feedback.
While some people react very directly, others require you to read between the lines of their feedback, Struijke explains. “Those varying forms of feedback stem from the underlying values of the person giving feedback. Someone who is very direct in their feedback values honesty, while someone who is less direct values causing no offence.”
Feedback on email or cake?
After a brief introduction of the different feedback styles, participants discussed how they give feedback themselves and how they prefer to receive feedback. One conclusion was that it helps to think about who you are giving feedback to and what the purpose of the feedback is. Are you grading a student's assignment, trying to help a colleague write a clearer email, or giving feedback on the cake your father baked?
Participants also agreed that it can help to clarify in advance what your feedback style is, and indicate what kind of feedback you like to receive. Struijke: “Clarity about our respective feedback styles helps us to understand each other better and not take feedback personally.” At the same time, adapting your own feedback style entirely to the other person often doesn’t work very well. “Don't all of a sudden try giving very direct feedback if you are used to responding more indirectly. That often backfires.”
Want to learn more about inclusive feedback?
Radboud In'to Languages offers feedback workshops, group courses on inclusive communication and customised training courses.