“Hey,” I said to a new employee, “can I give you some feedback?” A look of total panic flashed across his face. “Erm, sure, OK, I guess” he stammered.

A while back I read Ken Blanchard’s One Minute Manager; more recently I’ve been listening to Mike Auzenne and Mark Horstman’s Manager Tools podcast. There’s a common theme going: constant, concise and precise feedback is a vital management skill.

When you give effective feedback, here’s what happens: Your staff know what’s expected of them and know that you’re watching. You increase the effectiveness of your team and make a noticeable impact outside your department.