Positive feedback
I was doing a 1:1 meeting recently and we talked about their code reviews of a recent joiner.
When doing these reviews it is easy to just pick up the faults and issues that need correcting. I learnt from a previous team that there is a lot of value in adding positive feedback as comments for the things that have been done well. This is even more true for new joiners.
A code review doesn’t always have to be about finding fault, it can also be about finding things done well.
It links nicely to this article by Matthew Dicks where he talks about an executive he was talking to who viewed positive feedback just as a compliment and not really appreciating the value it offers.
He explains that positive feedback can have multiple benefits:
We often aren’t aware of what we do well, so by alerting you to this, I can ensure that you don’t arbitrarily extinguish the behaviour because you don’t understand its value.
By alerting you to what you’re doing well, I can improve the frequency and consistency of that behaviour, thus improving overall performance.
So, next time you are reviewing something, try and include something positive. It can make a difference.
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