Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Giving Feedback in Annual Reviews

We’ve said that leadership and supervision are two wings to the airplane of accomplishing God’s mission.  We lead the people and supervise (manage) their work.  Part of good supervision is giving feedback to those we supervise.  Giving feedback in such a way that it is received and acted upon is an art to be developed.

Below are some notes from an interview with former Navigator International President, Lorne Sanny, on giving feedback, especially in a formal feedback session like an annual progress review.  He framed the topic under the umbrella of leading out of love.

• Love means we give people feedback on how they are doing
  • Use ‘progress reviews’, not performance reviews
    • Performance reviews – not best term because it means the work is already finished
    • Progress reviews a better term for it implies work is in progress and we can still affect the outcome
    • Progress reviews are based on agreed upon goals, outcomes, or “focus items”
      • Some personalities don’t like the term ‘goals’ – can use the term “focus items” instead
    • Have those we supervise evaluate themselves by asking questions
      • Many are harder on themselves than we would be, so we can affirm them and bring true perspective to them
      • “The imagination is often worse than the realization.”
    • A good question to ask, “Is there anything I can do to help you accomplish your goals?”
      • “What do you think you will need to accomplish this?”
    • End the review by asking, “Is there anything else you want to say to me?”
    • On difficult issues, help them think by asking reflection and open-ended questions
    • Don’t use progress reviews to correct problems!  Do that on day-to-day basis.
  • Romans 14:17-18  – a good outline for progress reviews
    • For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
      • Righteousness –  What is right?                  What
      • Peace –  Do I have peace (settledness in my spirit) about it?                                                           When
      • Joy –  Should be a positive experience         How

Certainly feedback takes many forms beyond just annual progress reviews.  Becoming a skilled giver (and receiver) of feedback will help you supervise well and ultimately accomplish your God-given mission.