Strategies for Delivering Feedback That Drives Workplace Success

Employee experience was ranked as the second most common answer when HR professionals were asked about departmental priorities, according to the 2025 SHRM State of the Workplace Report. Yet many U.S. workers paint a different picture: 34% report a lack of recognition for their contributions, 25% cite insufficient collaboration or support within their teams, and 15% feel performance evaluations are unfair. 

There’s one powerful tool you can use to bridge this disconnect: effective feedback.  

Leaders who properly use feedback can offer the recognition, support, and fairness that employees seek. Receiving meaningful feedback has a direct impact on employee experience. Four in five employees (80%) who say they have received meaningful feedback in the last week are fully engaged, according to research from Gartner. Higher engagement is directly tied to business results but is in decline, notably among Generation Z workers. Delivering thoughtful feedback is a critical skill for leaders. “Effective feedback must go beyond a mere checkbox mentality. If we reduce it to a transactional task, we risk delivering input that is imprecise, lacks meaningful direction, and fails to provide actionable insights,” explains Jim Link, SHRM-SCP, CHRO at SHRM.

Read More: The Case for Employee Experience Report

Effective feedback doesn’t just improve day-to-day performance — it also builds the trust and confidence necessary for successful delegation. As executive coach and advisor Lucinda Smith explains, delegation depends on a foundation of clear, constructive feedback, which “not only improves team productivity but also helps develop team members’ skills and confidence.” SHRM’s 2024 report on global workplace cultures finds that honest feedback is one of the five core drivers of a positive workplace culture.

When employees understand expectations and feel supported through thoughtful feedback, they’re more prepared to take on new responsibilities and grow in their roles. Below are six practical tips from Smith to enhance your feedback to enable better delegation and stronger team performance. 

1. Be Specific and Objective

Be specific about what was done well and why it mattered. For example, instead of saying “Great job,” say, “Your summary helped the team clarify the next steps and stay on schedule.” 

2. Address Both Strengths and Areas for Improvement

Reinforce what went well and offer clear direction for improvement. This dual focus helps employees build on their strengths while knowing where to grow.  

3. Offer Solutions and Guidance

Help guide employees with specific solutions to missteps or oversights. For example, if a stakeholder was left off communication, clarify the types of messages they should be included in going forward. This offers employees a clear action they can take in the future to avoid similar issues. 

4. Focus on Development

Connect the feedback to the employee’s long-term goals. Consider sharing how feedback given to you has helped your trajectory, as it will help make the message more relatable and encouraging. 

5. Encourage Two-Way Dialogue

Affirm employees’ inclinations to share perspectives and ask questions. This provides a key engagement point where employees can better understand the “why” of the feedback and what it means for them.  

6. Follow Up

Check in regularly to see how team members are applying the feedback and acknowledge when progress is made. When an employee follows through on feedback they’ve been given, like including that stakeholder on specific emails, let them know you see their effort.  

Drive the Organization Forward

Effective feedback is at the core of building a strong, engaged, and high-performing team. When leaders commit to fostering open communication, creating a constructive environment, and following the steps outlined above, they can empower employees to grow, adapt, and excel in their roles. Continuous follow-up and acknowledgment of progress further reinforce a culture of accountability and development. When feedback is approached thoughtfully and strategically, it not only drives individual performance but also strengthens the collective success of the entire organization.