Once upon a time, managers gave employees structured feedback once a year during their annual review. This format worked for decades, but it’s heading out of style fast.
The growing number of millennials in the workforce is likely linked to the rising importance of microfeedback. These young workers have been the largest generation in the U.S. workforce since 2016, according to the Pew Research Center. Unlike their more seasoned colleagues, millennials crave feedback, which isn’t surprising, considering they grew up in the digital era, which is marked by instant gratification.
Microfeedback — quick critiques in the moment — may soon replace performance reviews, because it’s more effective and better aligned with the needs of the increasingly millennial-dominated workforce. Only 19 percent of millennials say they receive routine feedback, according to a 2016 Gallup report, so take a look at this new form of feedback and what it has to offer.
Three Benefits of Microfeedback
It’s Timely
Standard performance reviews are kind of a walk down memory lane. It’s hard for both you and the employee to remember specific instances from a year ago, and even if you can, the amount of time passed makes any feedback given largely useless. On the other hand, microfeedback is delivered in the moment, allowing employees to immediately adjust their behaviors for the better. This promotes growth because they’re able to realize exactly what they were doing wrong, and quickly make positive changes.
It’s Relevant
Feedback is more effective when given in the moment. If the employee is the right mindset, they’re better equipped to process the advice. The instant nature of microfeedback makes it more valuable because it can actually affect the outcome of the task the person is working to complete. Annual reviews don’t have the same impact, because people are less invested when looking back on something they did months ago.
It’s Easy to Disperse
Annual reviews are a largely time-intensive process. Evaluating an employee’s performance over the span of an entire year is daunting, but microfeedback is the exact opposite. Since your reaction is immediate, it’s quick and easy to give. Simply provide a few quick thoughts and move on. This saves you time and allows you to deliver critiques of a higher quality.
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