The Right-and Wrong-Stuff: How Brilliant Careers Are Made and Unmade

by Carter Cast

An entrepreneurial colleague, Craig Wortmann, shared with me what he calls “the world’s most simple feedback framework,” which he uses as a managerial tool in his sales consulting firm, Sales Engine Inc. “When there’s an opportunity to provide useful feedback to a team member or to a client,” Craig said, “I go through four simple steps and I do it right after the event occurs, whether it’s a presentation or an important meeting. First, I ask ‘What is one thing you think you did well?’ Then I shut up and listen. When they’re done talking, I say, ‘Here is one thing I think you did well.’ These first two steps build their confidence. Then I ask them, ‘What’s one thing you would do differently?’ Then I shut up and listen. When they’re done talking, I say, ‘Here’s one thing I think you could have done differently.’ These last two steps build their skills. Then I am DONE. I don’t pile on, providing feedback in multiple areas. People can remember and act upon one thing. And by keeping the feedback process simple and brief, I use it frequently.”