The Art of Performance Feedback

You probably know the points you want to get across when giving employees feedback. But you may be unsure of exactly how to get the points across effectively, without causing damage.

This book puts all the tools you need in one place with ready-to-use nonverbal and verbal techniques, words and phrases, and even a practical framework for structuring the conversation

Here’s a brief outline of some of the topics:

• Nonverbal communication and how it can influence your outcome by as much as 70%
• Facial expression, the most important aspect of nonverbal communication
• Voice tone and how to control it to create positive—not negative—emotions in others
• Emotional vocabulary, your secret weapon in de-escalating emotions in yourself and others
• Responding, an effective verbal technique that makes conversations happen between you and your employees
• Concrete (visual) and behavioral (action) words that reduce the opportunity for misunderstandings
• Mild request formats that give valid reasons for asking someone to do something
• Give, get, merge and go approach to structuring an interaction

The next time you prepare to give performance feedback, use this book for easy reference. You’ll learn how to make appropriate eye contact and when to raise the volume of your voice. You’ll discover how to build rapport and avoid overwhelming the employee by focusing on too many problems at once. You’ll also learn how to structure the discussion so the employee has equal input, and much more.

Every page contains strategies you’ll use over and over again to give employees the feedback they need to grow professionally and personally.

About the Author

Dr. Steve Sampson has been teaching social intelligence, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills for over 30 years. He brings both academic knowledge and practical experience to his seminars.

As an Educator, he holds a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts (1970) and a Masters (1976) and Doctoral Degree (1981) in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. He is a nationally recognized Master Trainer in Interpersonal Communication Skills since 1977, and has presented that training to over 300 agencies and organizations in 40 states. He is a former Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Georgia State University from 1979 to 1985. More recently, he retired from his position as a Clinical Professor in the Counseling and Psychological Services department at Georgia State University (1995–2004). He is currently an Executive-in-Residence Professor at the College of Justice and Safety at Eastern Kentucky University (2009–present).

As a Licensed Psychologist, he is the former Chief of Psychology of Georgia Regional Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia (1993–1995). He is also a nationally recognized counseling psychologist who works with various law enforcement agencies conducting fitness for duty evaluations and post shooting debriefings since 1982. He has been a contract Psychologist with 25 Metropolitan Atlanta Law Enforcement Agencies since 1991. Dr. Sampson has been conducting management training since 2003 for several federal government agencies (FBI, NSA, DEA, USSS, and DOE).

As a Criminologist, Dr. Sampson is the former correctional superintendent for Massachusetts Halfway Houses Inc. (1969–1973), as well as the former Correctional Superintendent for the Georgia Department of Corrections (1974–1976). He has provided training to over 250 prisons, law enforcement, and public safety agencies in Social Skills Training since 1977.

As an author, he has published several books on Social Intelligence Skills.

Look for his new book, Leaders without Titles, in stores soon (HRD Press).