Giving feedback is unquestionably one of the most challenging tasks for any leader, as it can be painful to both the giver and receiver. It is nonetheless invaluable: Research has shown that employees recognize the importance of feedback—whether positive or negative—to their career development.

Many even welcome it, provided it’s given well. One study of nearly a thousand employees both in the United States and abroad found that 92 percent believed that negative feedback is effective at improving performance—“if delivered appropriately.”

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