Feedback Strategies: The Right Way to Help

Through playing sports, I've learned the importance of being coachable and accepting feedback when you need it. However, I think it is just as critical to be able to give feedback in an appropriate manner. I think I have been good at giving feedback because I've gained experience in a few leadership positions, but this assignment gave me the chance to refine some areas where I need to improve.
First, I read Adam Grant's "How to Give Bad Feedback Without Being a Jerk". I think I can come across as harsh at times when giving feedback just because of my cynic personality. This article gave me some great insight on how to present my feedback in a positive manner. For example, Grant writes about how it is important to step off our pedestal when giving feedback. Instead of just being someone who critiques a colleague, I can instead present myself as someone who has received feedback in similar situations and could perhaps offer a different point of view.
The second article I read was "The Trouble with 'Amazing': Giving Praise that Matters" by Jennifer Gonzalez. I definitely feel like I related to this article as someone whose parents always had high expectations and, as a result, did not just hand out praise. I think Gonzalez makes a great point about how pointless praise really doesn't help much. The reference to "Paula praise" from American Idol that she mentioned is a perfect representation of feedback that is rather useless. I haven't really thought about the idea that this sort of praise is centered around the person rather than the effort, though. It's a little nit-picky, but it is also evident in some of the wording that people use. There's a slight, yet significant difference between "you're great" and "that was great".

Just because feedback is constructive does not mean it has to be negative!