While many people concentrate on giving constructive feedback, we often overlook the importance of delivering positive feedback with impact.
Positive, affirming feedback is a powerful tool for boosting morale, reinforcing good behavior, and fostering a positive, optimistic work environment. However, we frequently resort to vague praise like “You’re awesome,” “You’re amazing,” or “You’re a rock star.” This kind of feedback, while well-intentioned, lacks the specificity that makes it truly meaningful.
To give sincere and impactful positive feedback, being specific is key. At CuriosityBased, we use a conversation structure we call CFA CAA, which stands for:
- Context: Recap the situation.
- Action: Describe what the person did.
- Feeling: Share how it made you feel.
- Ask: Ask a question to understand their motivation and initiate a conversation.
Here’s an example using CFA CAA:
- Context: I didn’t get into the program I really wanted.
- Action: Mike went to the program director and advocated for me.
- Feeling: I felt supported and valued.
- Ask: Why did you go the extra mile to support me?
See how much more meaningful and impactful the feedback becomes when it’s specific?
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