Feedback: When Timely ≠ Immediate

Feedback should be timely. Most people equate this to immediate and that is not always the case. As an example, you just made a mistake. You are upset about it and most likely beating up yourself inside. Your boss is also upset about your mistake and needs to give you ‘timely/immediate’ feedback. These conversations typically don’t go well. Emotions are too high, and they are generally unproductive. Depending on the situation, next time you have constructive feedback for someone, consider waiting for all to be in a receptive emotional state to effectively give and receive. Depending on the person, their history and experience, it may not even be necessary to say anything more than…..”I know you will fix it or don’t dwell on it”. It carries a lot more long-term benefit than the immediate feedback that we tend to gravitate towards.