Lessons in Feedback from Dancing with the Stars
How Derek Hough is a master and why Carrie Ann is annoying
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Along with millions of others, I am a new viewer of DWTS this season. As always I am picking up on some insightful life lessons and being reminded of craft and what it takes to develop one.
At work, feedback is one of the most important elements of leadership and teamwork and often the greatest failure or missed opportunity. The judges from DWTS, all masters of the craft of dance, have something to offer in their consistency and delivery of feedback to the stars learning this skill for the first time.
Give feedback like Derek
Derek Hough (for those unaware) was a pro dancer on DWTS, he has emmy wins, and he is a master a the craft. He is also a master of giving feedback. His comments are almost always:
positive and focused on their potential
specific to elements they did well
attentive to challenges they overcame
gracious when acknowledging a failing or fumble and
clear about what they could do to level up—to get a little bit better
Contrast this with Carrie Ann
“It just didn’t do it for me…”
Carrie Ann’s feedback is erratic, emotional, unpredictable, and uneven. It often lacks specificity about what went well, what didn’t, or what they could do to improve. Her scoring and her comments are rarely clearly linked. She can get swept up in her feedback and whatever direction it goes and it leaves the recipients confused, uncomfortable, and unsure of what is going on.
The above comment was real—maybe you’ve received feedback like that at work. “This just isn’t up to my standard.” Cool, what can I do to get better then? “Be better.” Thanks…
Try providing feedback differently next week
WWDS (What Would Derek Say?)
When you encounter a teammate, child, partner, or even a service provider, provide some feedback that 1. appreciates their work, 2. affirms something they did, and 3. adds a note about what they could do to get a little better.
When a performance or task is completed perfectly, just say so! Be clear and simple. Great work on all of it. This, this, and that were done to perfection. Well done.”
Until next week,