"Clear is kind, unclear is unkind.” -Brené Brown This mantra hits. As a Creative Director at Atomicdust, I am constantly reviewing work and providing feedback. And giving feedback is hard—whether it’s on a single design posted on Slack, reviewing a whole campaign or during a 1:1 review. But not giving honest feedback or half-truths to “be kind” is actually unkind. Because we’re not actually thinking of them. We’re thinking of ourselves—to make us feel more comfortable, and avoid potential discomfort. Because like I said, feedback is hard. The downfall? Even when we give unclear feedback, we still hold the person accountable for what we're actually thinking. It doesn’t set them up for future success and leaves both parties frustrated. And no one wins. So here’s how we win, with clear, honest feedback: Use “I” statements. Make it timely and specific. Stay constructive. Let's challenge ourselves to be brave, to be honest, to be clear, and, yes, to be kind. Thanks Brené for the reminder.
This explains why you're so ruthless!
This is amazing advice, for work and for life. Clarity, specificity and honesty are of monumental importance. Here in the collaborative communications biz, clarity is paramount—and if we can't be clear and straightforward with each other, how do we expect it to translate to the work we're doing?
Great thoughts to keep in mind. There's also the other side of the pendulum where feedback is too direct and specific instead of letting someone be creative and solve the problem. (Where I struggle!) It's such a tough line to balance.
Great stuff, Katie!
B2B marketing for humans | Atomicdust | Director of Marketing | Branding, content marketing, email & more
8moFeedback can be just as scary to give as it is to receive... but you're totally right, Katie. Better to be thorough and clear than not. I'm a big proponent of "praise in public, coach in private" (although one-to-one praise can also be really meaningful... so maybe it's "praise everywhere, coach in private," ha!)