Why Feedback Can Make Work More Meaningful

Essential for every manager, feedback nevertheless often remains perceived as a constraint. Why impose a potentially uncomfortable moment on yourself, at the risk of straining the relationship with your team members? While the usefulness of feedback in helping individuals to progress is well understood, its secondary benefits are frequently forgotten—notably with regard to motivation. When properly conducted, these exchanges can restore meaning, including to thankless tasks. But that requires knowing how to formulate them accurately. This article offers concrete reference points on the contributions of feedback—and on the conditions required for it to produce its effects.