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The Right Way to Give Negative Feedback to Your Manager
It’s a tricky conversation, but it can be productive.
December 03, 2020
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Summary.
Giving negative feedback, especially to someone with more power than you, takes a lot of courage.
- Before you give negative feedback to your boss, ask yourself if the situation warrants a conversation. Do the potential costs of having the conversation outweigh the potential benefits?
- If you decided to move forward, prepare for the conversation. Block time on your manager’s calendar, identify what you’re going to say, pick a feedback method, and rehearse.
- After you deliver the feedback, don’t forget to show gratitude. Thank the person for taking the time to listen to you.
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New!
HBR Learning
HBR Learning
Writing Skills Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Writing Skills. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Capture your audience's attention with smarter emails, Slacks, memos, and reports.