Providing Feedback to New Employees

New employees need feedback to understand how they're doing and where they can improve. The onboarding period is critical for establishing feedback as a normal, helpful part of the work experience. **Why Feedback Matters During Onboarding** - Helps new hires calibrate their performance - Prevents small issues from becoming big problems - Shows investment in their development - Builds a foundation for ongoing feedback culture - Accelerates learning and adjustment **Principles for Effective Feedback** 1. **Be timely**: Provide feedback close to the event 2. **Be specific**: Focus on concrete behaviors and examples 3. **Be balanced**: Acknowledge what's going well, not just problems 4. **Be actionable**: Give guidance on how to improve 5. **Be supportive**: Frame feedback as help, not criticism **Feedback Frequency During Onboarding** - Daily informal check-ins in the first week - Weekly structured feedback sessions in month one - Bi-weekly reviews in months two and three - Formal reviews at 30, 60, and 90 days **Difficult Feedback Conversations** When addressing performance concerns: - Have the conversation privately - Be direct but compassionate - Focus on behavior, not personality - Ask for their perspective - Agree on next steps together - Follow up to check progress **Creating a Feedback Culture** Encourage new hires to: - Ask for feedback proactively - Receive feedback with openness - Act on feedback they receive - Give feedback to others appropriately