Most people know about the feedback sandwich: compliment, criticism, compliment. Many managers overuse that scheme, and the Losado Ratio may be a better alternative.
Photo by rochelle hartman
We’ve talked about giving negative feedback quickly to be effective. That feedback may not be effective, though, if you give too much criticism in relation to praise. American Express Open Forum recommends a 3:1 ratio for giving feedback:
The correct mix for maintaining productivity is three positive comments for each negative comment. This formula, known as the “Losada ratio,” was named afterDr. Marcial Losada, who studied the interplay of positive interactions and economic well-being. According to researchers, the Losada ratio of three positives for every negative feedback appears to be the minimum necessary to achieve high performance.
Too much negative feedback and your employee’s productivity suffers. If you’re having problems taking constructive criticism, try asking for more positive feedback from the boss.
What our Brains Look Like on Praise and Criticism [American Express Open Forum]
Comments