Communicating negative feedback : the tactics managers use

Negative feedback is widely regarded as necessary in facilitating performance improvements, though we know little about how managers deliver negative feedback to their employees. Understanding these tactics is important because the delivery of negative feedback can also have unintended consequences on employee behaviour, for example anger and aggression. Qualitative data from twenty semi-structured interviews revealed that managers employed tactics that were largely rational and emotive in nature. Other types of tactics that managers used focused on communication, the physical environment and avoidance. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.