Should feedback be the only part of the conversation with a remote?

Submitted by Brian Watkins
in
Manager Tools Trinity

I am fully on board that feedback should only be given either in person or on the phone (for remote employees) - never on IM or email. I have a remote employee who I only see a few times a year in person.

My question is this: if I call for feedback, should that be my only purpose, or can it be part of longer conversations? Does the type of conversation matter? For example, if I'm calling him to discuss a project, should I not provide feedback on a different project?

I realize that if I call, we may get on other topics, and I'm ok with that if he brings them up. I'll have the time and it is a great way to enhance the remote relationship.

In the end, I don't want to ruin the impact of the feedback by clumping it in with other things.

Any thoughts and experiences?

Submitted by Mark Horstman on Sunday March 6th, 2011 8:06 pm

It's okay to bring feedback up in the middle of talking about something.  It's okay to give feedback and then change subjects.  It's okay to wait until the end of a conversation.  It's okay to bring up feedback on a different project than the one you're talking about.
Talk to your remote employees over the phone more than you do your local folks.  It's AMAZING how much harder distance management is.
Mark

Submitted by Jeanine Aaron on Friday March 25th, 2011 2:52 pm

I have called just to provide feedback.  It went something like this...
Hi Tom, just saw your email to the client and wanted to call you.  Can I give you some feedback?
(You could hear an audible gulp on the other end.  It was positive feedback, so by the end of the 30 second conversation, I could hear a smile.)
That's it Tom, just wanted to call to tell you that, thanks again, I appreciate it.

Submitted by Jochen Adler on Friday March 25th, 2011 3:38 pm

That's what I love about O3s: they give you a regular "window" to address anything that comes up. I remember those "gulps" whenever I walked up to someone in their cube asking to speak in private. It's always an awkward moment. If you institutionalize regular one-on-one communication, it's just a natural situation to see you in a touchdown room speaking to one of your directs. No one will suspect anything. No more "gulps".