6 Common Pitfalls in Feedback Conversations
Six common mistakes in feedback conversations. How to give feedback? Useful tips for medical teachers are presented. Simple summary about common feedback pitfalls in Medical Education: https://youtu.be/j8STklbyLeE
Hi and hola para amigos,
Academic Medicine is a prominent journal in Medical Education field and they publish concise summary of a topic in a page called AM Last Page. In this video, Flamingo will meet you six common pitfalls of feedback conversations from AM Last Page.
If you involved in feedback conversations in your professional life, these pitfalls would be for you. The publication offers useful tips on how to repair these mistakes as well.
These pretty flamingos are excited to explain and get you to give healthier feedback.
The first pitfall is Emoti-Stunned. I believe all of the medical educators went through this. When you encounter an emotional reaction that is not expected and feel paralyzed. In this situation, intense emotion may derail the feedback conversation. Without feedback, there are no opportunities for improvement. So how can we repair the situation? Authors offering to pause and ask if it is okay to continue, and talk about the emotions being experienced after confirming comfort with continuing. After repairing it, you should prepare yourself to avoid making same mistakes. To do so, the authors offer three enablers. First, think about whether the conversation triggers identity, personal, or professional issues. Second, schedule feedback based on the learner’s readiness and availability. Third, explore your own reactions, including implicit bias.
Second pitfall is Clear as Mud. As you know, improvement cannot happen without understanding. It could be problem when you give feedback that is jumbled, and the learner looks confused. To repair, ask the learner how you are being heard. To not being confusing for the next time, make an agenda, and end by discussing what both you and the learner taking away from the conversation.
Third pitfall is Data Dump. When you give too much feedback all at once, cognitive overload inhibits comprehension and action. A large list of areas for improvement may reduce confidence. When you made this mistake, acknowledge and apologize for the feedback overload. Choose together which topics to discuss and which to delay. To avoid making Data Dump mistake next time, elicit the learner’s self-assessment before giving feedback. Start with the learner’s goals unless your list has an urgent safety concern.
Pitfall four is The Sandwich. It happens when your hard-hitting feedback is wrapped in positive generalities such as your performance was good, it was good, etc. If you do this, your hard-hitting feedback may not be heard. If the student perceive that you compile random praises, it may result in loss of trust. To repair it, directly discuss areas for improvement. When discussing positive observations, provide concrete examples. Ask what the learner would do again and what the learner would change next time. Next time, it would be useful for you to organize feedback into two columns, specifying what the learner has done well and what needs improvement. When you fill the columns, address all feedback in one column before moving to the next column.
Pitfall five is “Again!”. If you restate the same feedback after witnessing the same issue repeatedly, there is a problem. It is a sign of the mismatch between learning needs and teaching methods. To repair it, get curious. Describe the exact problem and how to change it. You should prepare yourself for the next time by reflecting on patterns.
Last pitfall, pitfall six is Authoritarian Royal We. When you shame the learner intentionally or unintentionally by implying “we all know”, openness may be inhibited. Implied lack of respect may inhibit effective learning relationships. If you used it, to repair it, explain the basis for your statement. Next time, use “I” instead of “we”.
Throughout the video, you listened the pitfalls and how not to make these mistakes. I hope you remember and use these useful tips in your daily and professional life.
If you want to take a look at the source of this video, you can find it the description.
See you and adios para amigos.
And also, don’t forget the flamingos.
