WashU: High-Impact Feedback & Listening

At the end of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Support colleague's job performance, growth, and development
• Build authentic, trusting relationships with colleagues
• More wisely choose opportunities to give and seek feedback
• Handle, reduce, or eliminate defensiveness or negative emotions that can occur in a feedback discussion
• Help create a culture of teamwork, performance & communication

• Introduction: Learners take part in a “fact or myth” activity to gain critical information about giving and receiving feedback. The facilitator introduces the two types of feedback: positive and developmental.
• Giving Feedback—Key Principles and STAR: Learners watch a video spoof called “Top Colleague” (a fictitious reality game show) that demonstrates poorly delivered feedback and subsequent poor receptivity to feedback. Learners discuss why the feedback in the video went wrong. The facilitator defines effective feedback skills and leads a discussion on the importance of meeting people’s personal and practical needs. Learners adjust the video judges’ feedback to encourage greater receptivity from the video contestants.
• Building Your Listening and Feedback Receptivity Skills: Learners discuss the importance of being aware of Feedback Deflection Traps, Receptivity Techniques, and barriers to listening to accurately understand a message. Learners identify a Receptivity Technique that would help the video contestants demonstrate better listening skills.
• The Feedback Discussion Model: Learners watch a video depicting a colleague in need of developmental feedback. The facilitator introduces the Feedback Discussion Model. Learners then watch a video that shows an employee efficiently delivering developmental feedback to the peer depicted in the earlier video.
• Skill Practice—Giving and Receiving Feedback: The facilitator introduces the Feedback Planner. In groups of three, learners participate in three rounds of skill practice for delivering developmental feedback.
• Applying Your Skills: In pairs, learners describe real-life opportunities they have for delivering either positive or developmental feedback back at work and plan their approach to those discussions.

Who should take this course?

Technical professionals wishing to earn Washington University's Technical Leadership Certificate. This course is designed to teach participants ways to increase their effectiveness with teams, in meetings and in individual discussion with peers, managers, vendors and customers.

Do I get a Certificate for this course?

This course is part of a larger program: The Technical Leadership Certificate. Take all 11 courses to earn the Certificate. Learn more here.