Why Immediate Feedback is Critical to Performance Improvement
Immediate feedback is critical to behavior change
Grace Tripathy
, Sat 9 September 2023
In the pursuit of personal and professional development, executives and managers often set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives that serve as a roadmap to success. While the SMART framework is undeniably effective, there is one critical element that can make or break one's journey towards achieving these goals: the immediacy of feedback.
Immediate Feedback: The Catalyst for Growth
Immediate feedback serves as a powerful catalyst for growth. When individuals receive prompt and relevant feedback on their actions and progress, they gain valuable insights into what is working and what needs improvement. This real-time information enables them to make necessary adjustments, increasing their chances of staying on track and achieving their SMART goals.
Imagine an individual with a SMART goal to increase search engine optimization within a sector of their organization. If they receive immediate feedback on their daily user interaction data and routine, they can make immediate adjustments based on their performance. This ensures that their efforts are aligned with their goal, preventing deviations that could hinder their progress.
Enhancing Motivation through Timely Feedback
Motivation plays a pivotal role in goal achievement. Immediate feedback can serve as a powerful motivator by acknowledging progress and highlighting areas where improvement is needed. When individuals see that their efforts are making a difference, they are more likely to stay committed to their goals.
For example, in a professional context, an employee striving to meet quarterly sales targets benefits immensely from immediate feedback on their performance. Knowing they are on track can boost their motivation to maintain or even surpass their efforts.
Fine-Tuning Strategies for Optimal Results
SMART goals often require careful planning and strategic execution. Immediate feedback allows individuals to fine-tune their strategies in real-time. By understanding what works and what doesn't, they can adjust their approach to optimize their chances of success.
Imagine a new sales team member. If they set goals that aren’t SMART and aligned with their team’s overall sales quota, they will be a big reason for why the team doesn’t achieve this outcome. If they receive immediate feedback on their sales goals, they can identify the specific areas where they need to focus their efforts. This enables them to adapt their outreach efforts and time management skills accordingly, increasing their chances of achieving their sales goals.
Feedback as the Engine of SMART Goal Achievement
For a SMART goal to be truly "smart," it should serve as a driver for ongoing learning and improvement. Feedback is the engine that propels this process forward. In the absence of immediate feedback, goals may lose their capacity to inspire personal growth and development.
Consider a professional aiming to increase their productivity, a classic SMART goal. If they don't receive regular feedback on their performance and efficiency, they may struggle to identify areas for improvement. Immediate feedback empowers them to make real-time adjustments, thus enhancing their productivity and ensuring that the SMART goal remains both achievable and time-bound.
Another perspective to consider is that feedback is instrumental in crafting SMART goals in the first place. When individuals have access to timely information about their progress and performance, they can set more specific and realistic objectives.
For instance, someone aspiring to run a company may initially lack the precise knowledge of their current leadership level. Immediate feedback through regular responsibilities helps them set a measurable goal for their growth at their organization. Feedback transforms a vague desire into a SMART goal by providing the necessary data and insights.
Real-Time Guidance and Clarity
Ambition In Motion's AIM Insights program offers teams a significant advantage by leveraging AI-generated goal setting and immediate feedback. With AIM Insights, teams experience an accelerated and more efficient goal-setting process. Traditional methods often rely on managers to set goals for their direct reports, potentially stifling employee autonomy and creativity. However, AIM Insights encourages employees to formulate their own objectives, harnessing research-backed benefits that self-set goals are more likely to be achieved.
One of the program's standout features is the integration of artificial intelligence to provide instantaneous feedback during the goal-setting process. AI evaluates whether the established goals align with the SMART criteria. This immediacy in feedback empowers employees to fine-tune their goals promptly, resulting in a higher rate of SMART goal achievement.
Immediate feedback ensures goals are not just "SMART" on paper but also in practice. It transforms them from static aspirations into dynamic pursuits of continuous learning and improvement. Without feedback, SMART goals can become stagnant, limiting personal and professional growth.
Feedback breathes life into SMART goals by enabling individuals to adapt, improve, and set new, more ambitious targets. If we don't have immediate feedback, we may question whether a goal is truly "smart."
