Learners Experience The Need For Feedback

I was asked for an activity that would help managers 'see' the need for feedback and what great feedback might include.  So here's an exercise I use to highlight the need for giving feedback:

You'll need about 12 marker pens and a box the size of a waste paper bin or the waste paper bin itself - and 3 volunteers.

• Ask the volunteers to leave the room
  
  
• Let the group know that they are to remain silent throughout the next part of the exercise
  
  
• Ask volunteer 1 to return
  
  
• Give them the 12 pens and ask them to close their eyes and not to re-open them until you let them know that they can
  
  
• Place the box 3-4 meters away from your volunteer
  
  
• Let the volunteer know that there's a box in front of them and that they are to throw as many of the pens as possible into the bin
  
  
• Tell them to start (while everyone else remains silent).  Chances are that none of the pens will actually go into the box.
  
  
• Thank them and ask them to take a seat.
  
  
• Give the following instructions to the group, "Offer feedback but non-specific feedback such as, after throw 4 you say the first throw was closer, you throw like my grandmother, nice throwing action, nice try (even though it isn't really.
  
  
• Ask volunteer 1 to return
  
  
• Give them the 12 pens and ask them to close their eyes and not to re-open them until you let them know that they can
  
  
• Place the box 3-4 meters away from your volunteer
  
  
• Let the volunteer know that there's a box in front of them and that they are to throw as many of the pens as possible into the bin
  
  
• Encourage the non-specific feedback from the group.  Chances are, again, no pens will go into the box.
  
  
• Thank them and ask them to take a seat.
  
  
• Give the following instructions to the group, "Offer specific feedback eg a little harder, more to the right, more to the left etc.
  
  
• Ask volunteer 1 to return
  
  
• Give them the 12 pens and ask them to close their eyes and not to re-open them until you let them know that they can
  
  
• Place the box 3-4 meters away from your volunteer
  
  
• Let the volunteer know that there's a box in front of them and that they are to throw as many of the pens as possible into the bin
  
  
• Encourage the specific feedback.  Chances are pens will start to go into the box.
  
  
• Thank them and ask them to take a seat.

Debrief

• Ask volunteer 1 how it felt - they are likely to respond with such things as, I had no ideas where I was throwing the pens or where the box (target) was, so I just kept throwing randomly.
  
  
• Ask volunteer 2 how it felt - they are likely to respond with, it was a bit confusing as I was ask to repeat like throw 1 but that was 5 throws before and I couldn't remember, I liked when they said it was nice but nice in what way, it would have been better if they could have given me specific information.
  
  
• Ask volunteer 3 how it felt - they are likely to respond, it was great getting specific things to try, the first throw was random but after that I felt like I was getting closer to the target with each throw and nice to have a cheer when I actually started getting the pens in the box.

Ask the group to work in teams and generate a list of what great feedback should include:

Expect them to come up with, feedback needs to be, given or no change will happen, specific, timely (ie as it happens), positive, actionable and meaningful.

You could then expand on each element and have the group practice these elements now they know why they are included when offering feedback.