New research finds that managers often end up sugar-coating their feedback, often without even realizing they’ve softened their approach. As a result, employees may misunderstand the feedback or fail to grasp the message completely.
For example, research shows workers can interpret the common phrase “a real possibility” as an event’s likelihood of happening ranging from 20% to 80%. The room for interpretation can lead to further confusion among subordinates.
If a subordinate has a better understanding of what their supervisor expects, then his or her work will also be more effective and benefit the team as a whole, says one HR expert. Managers can provide more clear and direct feedback to subordinates using these helpful tips.