Appreciation, coaching and evaluation, and when to use each.
Giving feedback is something most people recognise as important, but few feel truly confident doing well. We break it down into three distinct types: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation. By understanding the differences, participants can choose the right kind of feedback for the right moment, and deliver it in a way that lands.
We begin by examining the purpose and value of each feedback type.
Each has its place, and problems arise when they get blurred.
Participants explore examples of each type and consider what kind of feedback they tend to give most often.
We also look at the risks of using only one type: too much appreciation without coaching can stall growth, while too much evaluation without empathy can damage morale.
The session encourages people to reflect honestly on how they’ve approached feedback in the past, and what they want to do differently.
By the end, participants will have a shared vocabulary and a better sense of how to give the right kind of feedback - and why it matters.
It's important to identify and apply the most appropriate type of feedback for different situations. The team reflects on their own habits: Do they give enough feedback? Is it balanced? Are they leaning too heavily on one type? This reflection sets the foundation for more deliberate and effective feedback going forward.
Introduce the three types of feedback, then let people explore each one and reflect on which they tend to lean on.
Break feedback into appreciation, coaching and evaluation. People explore the purpose of each, reflect on which they tend to give most, and consider the risks of over-relying on one.
Use Feedback 101 when a group needs a shared vocabulary for feedback. Breaking it into appreciation, coaching and evaluation helps people choose the right kind for the moment and notice which type they tend to over-rely on.
Using this tool with a skilled facilitator means that discussions are focused, time is used efficiently, and the group moves toward consensus, making the session productive and impactful.
