Reimagining the Feedback Experience

When I say the word feedback, what comes to mind? Whether you're giving it or receiving it - what feeling comes across your body? 

Unfortunately feedback has become something people have learned to dread despite the fact that we often say to people "feedback is a gift." So why doesn't it feel that way? 

Among many reasons, one core one is that we are all naturally inclined to have what’s called a “negativity bias” where negative emotions are stronger than positive emotions. So when a performance review or a 360 review speaks to weakness or areas for improvement, that will naturally outweigh any positive feedback in a person’s mind. Leaving the feedback experience less than desirable, and often as a result, far less productive. 

Conversely we have a “positivity offset” where through experiencing more positive emotions we can broaden our thought-action repertoires for responding to situations and build our psychological and social resources. Research tells us that positive emotions lead to improved visual processing, creativity, resilience, performance, trust, memory for details and better negotiation and decision-making skills. 

With this being the case – why don’t companies create more positive feedback experiences that allow leaders to capitalize on all of these core benefits? This has inspired me to change the way people experience feedback, one agency leader at a time. I’ve co-created a method called the Shift Positive 360, which is grounded in positive psychology while creating a system of support for ongoing positive reinforcement. 

The result – people actually enjoy the feedback process and are set up for success in their development. 

Reimagining the Feedback Experience

The Shift Positive 360 has two primary aspects that create a completely unique and effective feedback experience: 

1) Grounded in Positive Psychology

Positive Psychology is the scientific study of what is right / working in individuals, organizations, and communities. You see, when it comes to feedback, it's actually not enough to understand what's not working or what someone is doing wrong. What is more helpful, and will have a better chance at creating lasting change, is what you want them to do instead. So in keeping with key Positive Psychology methods, the Shift Positive 360 focuses on strengths, solutions, and desired outcomes. 

2) Engages a Leader’s "People System" 

Research shows that we do not change alone. We need ongoing support in order to be successful at creating lasting positive change. That's why the Shift Positive 360 creates a ''people system'' around the person in order to ensure she/he has the best possible chance at truly creating lasting change. The interview process engages each participant and by the end invites each key stakeholder to become an ally of the leader to ensure that both people benefit from the desired solutions and behaviors - creating a two-way accountability in each other's success. 

There are many ways to collect 360 feedback, or feedback in general for performance reviews etc. Many approaches focus on strengths, yet they also focus on weakness and problem areas. Some even seek out what triggers or reactive styles someone is likely to have. Even in our personal lives - how many times do you hear about what you do wrong vs right? While this can be informative, none of this feedback is helping the person to see how they should behave instead, what people need them to do more of, and how can they be even more effective by building on their strengths. 

The Shift Positive 360 has been described by coaches, coachees, interview participants and HR representatives as a completely different experience - one that is actually positive and energizing. This feedback does feel like a gift because it brings a level of clarity, specificity, and context that a person typically does not receive when being given feedback. 

I've had several of my clients tell me they pick up their Shift Positive 360 report to re-read on a regular basis - one even told me she reads it before going to bed and another shared it with her husband. Now what feedback report do you know where the experience is so that the recipient wants to re-experience it? 

Join the Movement

Whether you’re a talent development change agent by craft or you’re a leader managing others – give yourself the gift of experiencing feedback in a completely different way; one that’s far more productive. 

• HR Specialists: What's the feedback process like at your company? Is it helping to drive successful change among your leaders? Consider bringing in a coach who's certified in the Shift Positive 360 process to work with your leaders, OR consider being certified yourself through the Shift Positive 360 Coach Certification program.
• Agency Executives / Department Leads: Are your teams functioning to the best of their ability? Could the team connect more or work even better together? With the Shift Positive 360 I can interview each team member with this same approach and identify what's working and what could make the team even better.
• Agency Leaders: What feedback would you like to receive from your colleagues? Would it be nice to hear what they love about you, what they would like you to do even more of while also hearing what they commit to do to help you? You can receive the gift of Shift Positive 360 feedback by working with me or another coach who's certified. Together we'll develop your professional development plan and create your people system who will help you get there.

Hear From Others

“I was terrified to receive my 360 feedback and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this [Shift Positive 360] process. It was actually a positive and rewarding experience.” 
-Chief Creative Officer/Partner, Ad Agency

“The 360 process was incredibly helpful and eye opening - it gave me a clear understanding of the strengths I innately possess for which I could leverage to become a successful leader.”
- Account Director, Ad Agency

“I had always known there had to be a better way to conduct a 360 assessment as well as a better way to provide feedback. This is the better way. End suffering due to 360s.” 
-HR Director/Executive Coach, Retail Industry

“This 360 gave me the feedback that a career in advertising never has – it’s clear, positive, focused, helpful and exactly what I needed to understand how to succeed even more in my role.”
- Group Creative Director, Ad Agency