Embracing Praise and Feedback: Lessons from Our Personal Development Class

Last week, we concluded our personal development class titled "Understanding Praise and Feedback" at SJ Innovation LLC . The goal was simple yet powerful: to encourage a culture of praise and feedback among our team members. Our HR team and managers noticed that feedback was sparse, with many team members receiving just one piece of praise or feedback a month. This lack of communication made it difficult for individuals to grasp their performance, and the discomfort in giving feedback held us back from fully supporting one another.

As I prepared for the session, I wanted to present the material in a clear, motivational way that would inspire everyone to put it into practice. To guide my content, I drew insights from Kim Scott ’s book, "Radical Candor," which I had previously explored during our leadership reading initiative.

I briefly introduced Scott’s Radical Candor framework, focusing on the quadrant of caring personally while challenging directly. One story that resonated with me from the book was "The Story of Bob," demonstrating the importance of giving timely feedback. I shared a notable perspective from Scott: replacing the term 'feedback' with 'guidance.' By viewing feedback as guidance aimed at helping others succeed, we can cultivate a more positive and productive atmosphere.

The class emphasized the benefits of giving praise and feedback, including recognition, performance enhancement, stronger relationships, and opportunities for continuous learning. I introduced the CORE framework of Radical Candor, explaining each component:

• C - Context
• O - Observation
• R - Result
• E - nExt stEps

To support our teams, I developed an AI Assistant based on the CORE framework and demonstrated it live. This tool was designed to help us articulate praise and feedback effectively. I encouraged everyone to use it wisely, reviewing the content before submitting it to ensure it conveys the intended message positively. I also shared this AI Assistant at the organizational level for broader access.

It's crucial for our team to understand how timely and regular praise or feedback can lead to significant improvements. Regular feedback supports

a) Early identification of low performance, allowing individuals to course correct.

b) Open discussions during one-on-one meetings, fostering opportunities for growth.

c) A more comprehensive evaluation process during quarterly, yearly reviews, or confirmations.

I summarize the feedback I received from our session:

The session was highly appreciated for its timing in delivering praises and the use of real-life examples. The presenter effectively explained the importance of praise and feedback, offering different perspectives. Participants valued the AI agent created for managing praises and feedback, finding it a useful tool. The presentation was seen as one of the best Personal Development Classes (PDCs) attended, providing clear steps and solutions for self-improvement. The topic was considered important, offering a comprehensive overview of how praise and feedback contribute to personal growth.

Lastly, I extend my gratitude to Kim Scott for authoring such an insightful book. For those wishing to explore further, I recommend the following resources:

• Radical Candor Blog
• The Radical Candor Book

Together, let’s embrace a culture of open communication, support, and encouragement to help us all grow.