Feedback im Arbeitsleben – eine Selbstwert-Perspektive

Feedback is indispensable and ubiquitary. Giving constructive feedback is an important aspect of leadership. Giving good feedback is, however, rather difficult, and one often observes that employees feel hurt and demotivated by the way feedback is given. A central aspect of good feedback relates to maintaining, enhancing, or impairing people's self-esteem, and the present article focuses on this aspect. We discuss the implications of feedback for self-esteem, criteria for optimal feedback, and the difficulties of giving and accepting feedback, especially when it is negative. The last part discusses feedback in the context of performance appraisal in organizations.