The Double Meaning of "Feedback" - Tammy Erickson - The Diigo Meta page

• 29 Nov 08
  

  Bertrand Duperrin

  "Feedback" is one of those loaded, double-meaning words in today's workplace - words that connote very different things to members of different generations.

  feedback management performancereview learning assessment generationx generationy babyboomers

  • If you're a Boomer, consider what you expect to happen when you have a "feedback session" with your boss. In all likelihood, the purpose of this exchange would be to assess your performance, to render a judgment. Because Boomers love to win, your hopes may be high for a prize - but still it's not exactly the sort of thing one wants to go through on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis - once or twice a year is plenty, thank you very much.
  • If you're a member of Generation X, the meaning of "feedback" is similar - it relates to an assessment or judgment. But the hoped-for outcomes may be a bit different. More money is great, but so is a longer leash -- more freedom to operate in your own preferred way.
  • 2 more annotations...
  • • But for members of Generation Y, "feedback" means something very different. Ys learn through personal interactions. They are accustomed to reaching out to friends and family for suggestions, coaching or factual input on any number of topics, as they go along. Rather than being linear learners -- I learn, then I go off and do -- Ys are "on demand" learners. They start a task, uncover a need for additional information, seek that specific bit out, and move along. This cycle might happen multiple times every day.
    • People who comment that Ys "can't take criticism" are again missing the point. It's not that they can't take it -- it's that that is not what they're seeking. They are in the learning, not the grading phase. They are asking you to teach, not to score.

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