Use positive feedback to build
commitment from others toward the mutual goal.
But once the other has ‘bought in’ to the goal, positive feedback has
diminishing returns – how much more committed can one get? At this point, shift to negative
feedback. Negative feedback is more
effective at influencing the behaviors of experienced and/or committed
stakeholders in a shared goal.
I find this to be true for me – I want to be encouraged as I
start a new endeavor, or if I’m unsure whether I’m ‘part of the team’. But once I’m firmly established in a team,
additional encouragement loses its effectiveness. It feels forced or fake. Occasional encouragement is nice, but not too
much. However, if I’m called out on a
mistake, I become quite determined to prevent that from happening again – I work
more diligently to make sure I don’t ‘let down’ the team.
