How important is The Power of Positive Feedback?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:54:14 -0400

How important is The Power of Positive Feedback?

In my continued focus on Leadership Development there is Positive Feedback and the role it plays in effective Team Building, Mentoring, Coaching, and Leading

I'd like to hear your feedback (Positive if possible) on the author's recommendations on the topic and what value they have for future and current leaders in the military and leaders about to transition into the civilian world?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-positive-feedback-robin-young?trk=pulse-det-nav_art

by Robin Young
Founder, CEO, and Researcher at the juncture of linguistics, audio engineering, behavioral science, and machine learning

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 10 at 2015 5:00 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:00:19 -0400

Thank you are two powerful words. I was always looking for innovative ways to say thanks like passing down gift certificates and arranging helicopter rides for the soldiers.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Sep 10 at 2015 5:01 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:01:08 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs I learned some years ago in the military it depends entirely on the generation of soldiers you're dealing with. The younger Millennial's do not respond well to negative feedback, you can't just yell at them and PT them to do the right thing. They're community minded critical thinkers. It was much more effective to pull them aside and say "You messed up big time, here's why, don't do it again" rather then trying to smoke them and have them figure it out on their own. Otherwise you'd just end up with tired and angry soldiers who are worse off.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 10 at 2015 5:16 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:16:32 -0400

I couldn't agree more with SSG Carlos Madden. I'll throw in my 2 cents and add that it also depends on the individual and how they were brought up. When I was younger and poor self-esteem was an issue, positive feedback made me the freaking energizer bunny. You could get the work of 3 people out of me. Fast forward 10 years or so and you could hand me the keys to the planet and I would look at you like, 'what is this cat really trying to get me to do now? No amount of "Scooby snacks" could get me to work any better because I always tried to have the reactor pushing 100%. My idea of positive feedback meant that some obstacle in my path was removed by someone else and we could proceed full speed ahead. They finally zeroed in on those qualities and threw me into production control. It was a curse AND a blessing. All the hard work, migraines, LONG hours, but it really showed me how the big picture worked in Army aviation. We are truly in a world few people understand. So positive feedback is usually appreciated, but as individuals, we all get our positive feedback in many different capacities. Now, I'm a medically retired, out of work, workaholic. Unless someone needs help with aviation assets taking over a 3rd world, my skills lay dormant (thank God) and I spend FAR TOO MUCH time with you fine folks.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 7:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 19:49:34 -0400

Positive feedback is very important. Sometimes leaders forget that positive feedback is just as important as negative feedback. When I was a young soldier, I had a NCO that only scolded his soldiers but never gave any positive feedback. As a soldier, it is very important to know that you're doing a good job or what you need to improve on. In my opinion, positive feedback is very important when it comes to leading soldiers. I hope this helps!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 8:46 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 20:46:17 -0400

Positive feed back is absolutely critical. Leaders must always remember how important it is and provide it when possible.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 10 at 2015 11:27 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 23:27:36 -0400

It's the utmost of things that should be important.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Sep 10 at 2015 11:43 PM

COL Ted Mc — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 23:43:47 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Mikel; "Positive Feedback" has always been incredibly important.

It remains incredibly important toady.

It will likely remain incredibly important this side of the heat death of the universe.

HOWEVER, there has to be a judiciously applied amount of NEGATIVE feedback applied contemporaneously or else "adequate" becomes the standard to strive for.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Sep 10 at 2015 11:47 PM

COL Charles Williams — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 23:47:32 -0400

It is huge COL Mikel J. Burroughs. It is the difference between gaining compliance from your team, or getting "buy-in" and taking it to the next level. No one wants to improve the organization in a toxic climate; Most, just want to survive. Being positive, and providing positive feedback has the opposite effect. The team feels valued, enjoys the team, and hence steps it up a notch... If you want to take it to the next level... being positive is the only sure fire method. Being negative gets compliance at best.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 10 at 2015 11:53 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 23:53:50 -0400

It reinforces the actions of those we lead and encourages them to continue those efforts

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 11 at 2015 3:16 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 03:16:13 -0400

Of course positive feedback is important. While constructive criticism is important as it lets you know what went wrong/how you can improve, it isn't always called for.

If a person did a great job, tell them. I don't know how many "leaders" I worked for over the years who would only speak up if I fudged something up, keeping their mouths clamped shut if I did great work, exceeding expectations.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 10:02 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 10:02:16 -0400

Sir-I feel "positive feedback" get's confused with "re-assurance" too often. There's a lot to be said for letting subordinates know they're doing well...it shows appreciation and more importantly, objectivity. That said, it can be misleading, and I humbly submit that based on my own experiences, it can be harmful. When transitioning out of the "student naval flight officer" track to what I hoped was a surface warfare career, my squadron CO advised me that since I wanted to stay in the Navy, and stay in a "line" designator...I would have no trouble getting the "nod" based on my record. I made some critical career decisions at twenty-one because I felt that the O-5 advising me was "shooting straight" rather than trying to make me "feel good" about deciding to drop on request. Had he said something to the effect of, "Well, Ensign...if you can't hack the back seat of an F-18, why in the hell would they want you in the CIC of a DDG?", I probably would've dug a little deeper, or resigned myself to the fact I was essentially ending my naval career at some point. This continued once I got to the ship...My CO was a hard-charger, but based on his own experiences, felt it was really "no big deal" and that in time, I'd be redesignated. I spent four years expecting to either end up a "SWO" or being permanently re-assigned to the O-4 billet I held as an O-2-seemed logical to me that in any event, I was "safe" until then.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 1:58 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 13:58:13 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Sir, as a leader of men and women - I expect my leadership to provide me feedback...regardless if it's positive or negative, on how I'm doing overall or on a specific task. I welcome feedback as a personal gauge on what I need to do next. Am I missing the bar in a specific area? If so, tell me - so I can re-adjust myself and make sure I meet my commander's intent. In short - I prefer negative feedback over positive feedback, because truthfully - it's a key component for me to improve overall as a Soldier/Leader.

Sure, there's times when negative feedback sucks and "butthurt" might kick in momentarily - but as leaders, we must do our own self-reflection/analysis and see if we see where the negative feedback stems from. From there, we can re-adjust and continue to improve.

Just my .02

Response by CPL Timothy Lane made Sep 15 at 2015 2:00 PM

CPL Timothy Lane — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:00:13 -0400

Positive feed back yes with follow up with co leadership

Response by SSgt Paul Esquibel made Sep 15 at 2015 11:07 PM

SSgt Paul Esquibel — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 23:07:49 -0400

Positive feedback is always needed, however I believe personal feedback is more effective. Some people not all like the award program where you tell them they did a great job and your writing them a package. Then there are those that just need a honest response to something they did when they thought know one knew about or cared, to me that has the most effect on productivity, because it doesn't cross the line of being unprofessional but it sends a direct message to the person that you care and you notice the hard work they do even when they don't think anyone does. To me that motivates them more then any award could ever do.

Response by LCpl Dan McTiernan made Sep 16 at 2015 9:35 AM

LCpl Dan McTiernan — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 09:35:12 -0400

An interesting article that mixes supervision with leadership. Oft times individuals are groomed and selected for their immediate contributions or potential contributions to the organization and may be discarded after contributing. How does the positive feedback strategically develop the individual and the organization? Each Leader should be able to articulate how the feedback benefits the individual and the organization or group. A constant stream of positives over the long term will be negatively perceived. Recognition improves the organization when members, individuals, can see a correlation between their performance and the achievement of individual and organization goals. Effective leadership has subordinates who understand how individual performance contributions support personal and organizational development and goal achievement. The article to me is situational and supportive of everyone gets a trophy. like Morgan McCall's articulation of why leaders fail (University of So Cal), Strengths become weaknesses, weaknesses become important. Feedback, both recognition and developmental should be tied to goals. If in a pc environment, how does one feel after completing a good deed and not getting recognized, where is my merit badge. Has anyone here ever used Meritorious Mast to recognize direct reports?

Response by 1SG Bill Wayne made Sep 16 at 2015 11:24 AM

1SG Bill Wayne — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 11:24:18 -0400

Wow this can get deep quick. Feedback is a tool to couching. You need both positive and negative. However while using both you need to keep Maslow's hierarchy of needs in mind. Everyone wants to belong even the most fouled up kid in the Company. Everyone wants to be the best at there job and be noticed by there peers. I guess if your pointing out the negative aspects of performance to enhance a positive outcome. Its How you point out the negative. I think the example I am trying to share is this. PVT Joe screwed up you yell over to the guy Joe you Screwed up. Ok he excepts this corrects and moves on. You Jump up and down and yell at Joe you &*^^*(& You screwed up. He shut down right after &*)(*) and never got the correction. Now lets say Joe makes the same error after yelling over to him the first time. Follow up with the first correction again and then maybe an &**U&. That should translate to lets not have a 3rd occurrence.

Response by SSG Don Maggart made Sep 16 at 2015 2:37 PM

SSG Don Maggart — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:37:10 -0400

Critical Sir.. on average it takes a young trooper 3 tries to get a task done right but by encouragement salty and otherwise he will master any task required of them then it is up to you to put squad on squad platoon on platoon to foster Esprit. I saw guys hump a M-30 heavy mortar for 4 hours for the honor of a Pound Cake... and they didn't look hungry. Laffs

Response by SPC Donald Moore made Sep 16 at 2015 4:30 PM

SPC Donald Moore — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 16:30:52 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, My experience tells me that positive feedback is just as important as any other feedback.
My two cents.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Sep 16 at 2015 9:09 PM

SFC Stephen King — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 21:09:45 -0400

The importance of positive feedback as a leader is key to relationships. How you respond to your team builds the fundamentals of teamwork. That said being assertive while providing feedback takes some self awareness and self regulation.

Response by CPT George Ramirez made Sep 16 at 2015 10:03 PM

CPT George Ramirez — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 22:03:56 -0400

I have long left the service since 03' and now work in the civilian world agree with SSG Madden regarding keeping up with the changing generations. I find that the trophy generation finds it difficult to adjust to any feedback other than positive reinforcement. I find that they have been told all their life that everyone is a winner and everyone gets a trophy so when told otherwise they take it as a personal attack. I found useful Andrew Oxley Transforming Leadership a useful seminar. In essence understanding difference's in personality traits and backgrounds. The premise being each of us has a dominant personality type and identifying the personality type you are dealing with and adjusting your communication style to the personality type you are interacting with in order to have a meaningful message. I guess easiest way to explain it is adjusting your message based on the traits of the person you are communicating with so they understand the message you are trying to get them to understand, whether positive or negative.

Response by PV2 Glen Lewis made Sep 19 at 2015 5:17 AM

PV2 Glen Lewis — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 05:17:40 -0400

Positive feedback is positive reinforcement and I would think that would be almost, if not absolutely essential. People need to know that they are doing there jobs well in or out of the military and they need to know that they are appreciated.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2015 7:50 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 19:50:41 -0400

The Army is now all about giving everyone a trophy for showing up. They make it impossible for Leaders to do their jobs because the whiny private or specialist for that matter go and complain. Now that Leader is being reprimanded. We now have a generation joining the Army to where they feel entitled to do, say and have what they want. If they don't get it, it's an EO complaint. Truth hurts but it's exactly that, the truth.