Small medical transcription department
In theory, it should be simple to give or receive feedback. However, in practice it is often a delicate art form because of the emotions, perceptions, and past history that come into play between the parties involved. In the following assignment, you’ll be able to demonstrate your competency in the area of feedback.
Read the following scenario and then write a 500-1000 word essay which addresses the questions beneath the scenario.
Scenario:
David was just promoted to manager of a small medical transcription department and has inherited a problem. His predecessor recently completed annual performance evaluations of the staff, and it is now time to distribute annual raises, based in large part on these evaluations. Of the seven employees David now manages, five received fairly strong evaluations in the “above average” range, and two employees received just “average” ratings. The budget for David’s department will not be growing much for the next few years, and there is very little room for salary increases.
Because five of the employees received relatively strong and similar evaluations, he has decided to allocate the raises equally among those five employees. That means that the two employees who received only “average” ratings will not be receiving raises.
David now has to communicate to those two employees that they will not be receiving raises based on their “average” performance reviews.
What should David do before approaching each of the two employees to provide them with the “bad news” that they will not be receiving raises this year? What information should he prepare for the meeting?
If David were in his employees’ positions, how would he feel receiving the “bad news”? How might thinking through the employees’ perspectives improve David’s feedback?
When David does meet with both of these employees, what specific advice can you give him for delivering the “bad news” about the lack of raises to them? In addition, provide David with at least two specific ways that he can ensure that the employees feel that their ideas, concerns, or perspectives are heard during this feedback meeting. How will that advice make the conversation happen more smoothly?
