The survey found that employees feel a manager is giving helpful feedback when praise is paired with criticism, while surveys of managers demonstrate that they often greatly overestimate the helpfulness of negative feedback and underestimate the benefits of compliments.
Jack Zenger, the CEO of Zenger/Folkman and Joseph Folkman, the company’s president, conclude that in order to create an environment where negative feedback is constructive, it should be paired with positive feedback.
“Giving positive feedback shows your direct reports that you are in their corner, and that you want them to win and to succeed. Once people know you are their advocate, it should also make giving criticism less stressful and more effective,” write Mr. Zenger and Mr. Folkman.
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