4 tips for giving better feedback to your veterinary team

You know that constructive feedback is key to improving your veterinary team’s performance—but did you know that timing is one of the most important things? For best results, give team members feedback after a short delay—rather than immediately after they’ve completed the task. According to a University of Texas McCombs School of Business study, playing this waiting game actually improved employee performance. Here are four tips to remember when you’re giving employees feedback:

1. Hold your tongue. Immediate feedback prevents team members from learning from their mistakes.

2. Wait before offering advice. Waiting a short time before offering advice gives the employee a chance to learn on her own. Then she’s better able to absorb the advice.

3. Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you wait too long after the employee completes the task, the feedback will fall on deaf ears and the information may become more confusing than helpful.

4. Timing is key. Remember, if you give feedback at the wrong moment, it’s pointless. Study participants who received advice immediately and those who received advice after a long delay were more likely to say they didn’t get enough information to complete the task. Click here to learn more ways to give proper feedback and make your team stronger than ever.