Feedback in Performance Reviews

A Closer Look at Authoritative Feedback

Now let’s take a more detailed look at the three types of authoritative feedback: directive, contingency, and attribution.

Directive Feedback

This type of feedback is future oriented; it specifies a type of action for the receiver to take. Directive feedback tells the receiver what to do, what not to do, or what to do differently. In the story at the beginning of this guidebook, Ethan does this when he suggests that Brenda use different wording, like “symptoms” instead of “problem.” Directive feedback can be delivered in six different styles (command, advice, advocacy, request, inquiry, and example), and ...