Giving Corrective Feedback

 

Giving Corrective Feedback 

(Galatians 6:1)

This is Chuck Rapp with a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.  In my previous message I shared about the importance of “speaking the truth in love”, and I closed with the following comment. “Be willing to address difficult issues and to correct others when needed.  As you do this, wrap your message in love.  Have their interest, and most importantly, the interest of Christ’s Kingdom, in mind when you do so.” 

Galatians 6:1 instructs us, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”  

Today I want to share a suggested method for giving this corrective feedback.  As you speak with them, 

Address their behavior.  Focus upon their behavior and not on the person himself.  

Describe the impact that their behavior had upon you or the situation.  What happened, or did not happen, as a result? 

Let them know the consequence of their behavior.  What broader outcome occurred, or will occur, as a result of this behavior?  

Offer them alternatives for how they might better deal with a similar situation in the future.

Here is an example of what this might look like.  

Let’s say you are working with a trainer or coordinator who is frequently late submitting reports.  You might say something like the following.  “Friend, I noticed that this quarter you are again late submitting your report.”  (This is their behavior.)  

“Because of this we are unable to submit a complete report to our leadership.”  (This is the impact.) 

“Timely, accurate reports are a commitment we have made to leadership, and by failing to provide these reports we have violated our commitment and disappointed them and others.  This could affect our grant.  (This is the consequence.) 

“As a suggestion, I can think of some ways to avoid this problem in the future.  You might begin working on the report two or three weeks sooner than you normally do.  Or, you might set aside one or two days to work on nothing but your report so that it’s complete and submitted on time.  (These are possible alternatives.) 

By providing corrective feedback that focuses upon behavior, leaders are able to protect the relationship with the one being corrected. By making others aware of the impact and consequences of their behavior, we help them understand the larger picture and how their behavior affects ourselves and others.  Lastly, by sharing possible behavioral alternatives, we help them consider possible changes they might make in the future. 

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.