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Purpose – Past literature suggests that the performance and turnover of the subordinate are affected by the support, abuse, and feedback provided by the supervisor. In this study, we posit that support, abuse, and feedback in an accounting firm, are in turn, affected by the supervisor's personality, as defined by the Big Five personality factors.

Methodology/approach – We conducted a web-based study with 115 accountants from a top 100 US accounting firm. The accountants completed questionnaires related to the personality of their supervisors along with questionnaires related to the support, abuse, and feedback they received from their supervisors. We analyzed the data using factor analysis and multiple regression.

Findings – We hypothesize that Openness and Agreeableness increase support; Neuroticism increases abuse, but less so if the supervisor is an Extravert; and Extraversion and Conscientiousness increase feedback. Among the hypothesized relationships, all are supported except the relationship between Openness and support. Additional findings are that Extraversion and Conscientiousness increase support; Agreeableness and Conscientiousness decrease abuse; and Agreeableness increases feedback.

Research implications – Our study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the relationship between the personality traits of supervisors and their behavior toward subordinates in an accounting setting. The results of our study can be used in identifying the supervisors who have the right personality for the position, which will likely improve the work environment and reduce turnover.

Healthcare service quality in the USA has gained importance under value-based payment models. Providing feedback to front-line staff is a vital component of managing service performance, but complex organizational dynamics can prevent effective communication. This work explored the performance management of appointment desk staff at Mayo Clinic Arizona, identified barriers to effective management and sought to standardize the process for monitoring service performance.

Multiple data sources, including qualitative inquiry with 31 employees from the primary care and surgery departments, were used. The research was conducted in two phases – facilitated roundtable discussions with supervisors and semi-structured interviews with supervisors and staff six months after implementation of service standards. Participants were probed for attitudes about the service standards and supervisor feedback after implementation.

While all staff indicated a positive work environment, there was an unexpected and pervasive negative stigma surrounding individual feedback from one’s supervisor. Half the participants indicated there had been no individual feedback regarding the service standards from the supervisor. Presenting service standards in a simple, one-page format, signed by both supervisor and the patient service representative (PSR), was well received.

Combining rapid-cycle quality improvement methodology with qualitative inquiry allowed efficient development of role-specific service standards and quick evaluation of their implementation. This unique approach for improving healthcare service quality and identifying barriers to providing individual feedback may be useful to organizations navigating a more value- and consumer-driven healthcare market.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which two factors are associated with identification, the feedback environment and feedback seeking: two forms of identification, supervisor identification and workgroup identification, were linked to matching sources of feedback environment and feedback seeking.

An empirical study was carried out with a sample of working students representing a variety of industries in the USA. Students (n=256) completed a written questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Results indicated that feedback seeking frequency partially mediated the effect of supervisor feedback environment on supervisor identification. Similarly, feedback seeking partially mediated the effect of coworker feedback environment on workgroup identification.

Despite a cross-sectional design, these results support the role of feedback as a primary explanatory mechanism for how people can come to identify with multiple targets in their work environment.

In order to increase employee identification, organizations should train their managers to engage in contextual behaviors that support the feedback seeking process. Additionally, organizations may want to reinforce these coaching behaviors by incorporating them into the performance appraisal process for managers.

The vast majority of identification research has examined why people come to identify with targets in their work environment. This study represents one of the first to examine how people come to identify with those sources, fulfilling an important gap in the literature.

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize, understand, and measure positive and negative aspects of supervisor developmental feedback (SDF) and investigate their relationships with task performance.

In Study 1, common themes in SDF were identified and a set of SDF items were developed to capture the positive and negative SDF domain. Study 2 entailed the administration of the items to respondents to examine the dimensionality of the items through exploratory factor analysis. In Study 3, using confirmatory factor analysis we further examined the extent to which positive and negative developmental feedback (PSDF and NSDF) were conceptually distinct from each other and different from an existing general measure of supervisor feedback.

Study 1 and Study 2 yielded evidence that positive and negative SDF are distinct yet related constructs. Positive SDF predicted employee task performance. The positive SDF by negative SDF interaction predicted task performance.

The authors provide criterion-related validity evidence by examining the predictive validity of positive and negative SDF on subordinate task performance (reported by supervisors). Future research should examine the role of positive and negative SDF in predicting job performance in other samples and cultural contexts and for other outcomes, including organizational citizenship.

This research refines the SDF domain by identifying positive and negative domains of the SDF construct. The authors propose and test the joint influence of positive and negative SDF. The novel findings point to the importance of supervisors providing both positive and negative feedback to enhance performance.

Following the call of DeNisi and Smith Sockbeson (this issue) to integrate the literatures on feedback and feedback-seeking, the authors propose to view feedback and feedback-seeking as behaviors falling on a conversation continuum ranging from telling subordinates something about their behavior (feedback) to listening. The authors develop a model according to which listening creates a special type of supervisor–subordinate relationship (an I–thou experience), which in turn allows subordinates to recognize faults and strengths in their behavior as to facilitate performance improvement, without the costs of formal feedback.

Theory development and narrative research review.

Feedback and feedback-seeking are communication behaviors emitted by a supervisor, or a subordinate, that can be conceptualized as points on a continuum ranging from telling (i.e. supervisor or subordinate giving feedback), through question-asking (i.e. supervisor’s or subordinate’s feedback-seeking), to listening (e.g. supervisor or subordinate listening to one another).

Under many circumstances, listening can address organizational needs much better than feedback.

The feedforward interview in Listening Circles can be used to enhance performance at work.

Shifting the attention from feedback to listening by managers and researchers could facilitate a host of positive outcomes including better performance, lower burnout, higher job satisfaction and less extremism.

This paper shows that listening is found on the other pole of feedback (telling) and exposes the benefits of considering listening, and not only telling.

Atendiendo a la llamada de DeNisi y Smith Sockbeson (este número) para integrar las literaturas de feedback y búsqueda de feedback, ofrecemos algunas aportaciones teóricas que extienden el estudio del fenómeno en cuestión. Nuestro objetivo con esta contribución es la de señalar formas más efectivas, aunque largamente ignoradas, de mejorar la comunicación supervisor-subordinado, y el rendimiento resultante.

Sugerimos dos cambios teóricos a la hora de aproximarse al feedback y la búsqueda de feedback: viéndolos como un proceso de comunicación relacional (diádico), y ampliando los comportamientos de comunicación para incluir la escucha. A continuación revisamos los resultados existentes para evaluar nuestra teoría.

Nuestra teoría sugiere que el feedback y la búsqueda de feedback son comportamientos son parte de un continuo que va desde el decir a los subordinados algo sobre su comportamiento (feedback) hasta la escucha. Con esta visión, la escucha crea un tipo especial de relación supervisor-subordinado conocido como experiencia yo-tu, mientras que el feedback es más probable que genere una experiencia yo-eso, en la que el supervisor trata al subordinado como un objeto. La experiencia yo-tu, por el contrario, permite a los subordinados reconocer las debilidades y fortalezas de su comportamiento sin necesidad de un feedback formal. Además, el modelo teórico especifica condiciones de contorno. Específicamente, los beneficios de escuchar (a) se manifiestan principalmente cuando supervisor y subordinado forma una relación sobre una base segura, y (b) se ven comprometidos cuando las partes se relacionan de forma insegura.

La revisión de la literatura confirma los beneficios de escuchar, en relación al feedback y el feedback buscado, pero sugiere que el papel del estilo de relación es más complejo que el planteado en el modelo teórico.

Teóricamente, explicamos porqué el feedback, y en menor medida el grado de feedback buscado, crean problemas de comunicación que evitan que el rendimiento mejore. En la práctica, señalamos algunas técnicas para escuchar al empleado, tales como los círculos de escucha, y la entrevista de feedforward, que pueden mejorar la comunicación y en definitiva el rendimiento.

Feedback, Búsqueda de Feedback, Escuchar

Papel Conceptual

Atendendo a chamada de Denisi e Smith Sockbeson (este número) para integrar as literaturas sobre feedback e a busca do feedback, oferecemos propostas teóricas que expandem o estudo do fenômeno considerado. Nosso objetivo nesta proposta teórica é apontar mais eficácia, embora amplamente ignorada, de maneiras para melhorar a comunicação supervisor-subordinado e o desempenho resultante.

Sugerimos duas mudanças teóricas na aproximação do feedback e da busca do feedback: visualização do feedback e da busca do feedback como processos relacionais (diádica) de comunicação, e ampliando os mecanismos de comunicação para incluir a escuta. Revisamos os resultados existentes para avaliar nossa teoria.

Nossa teoria sugere que o feedback e a busca por feedback são comportamentos que fazem parte de um continuo que surge ao dizer aos subordinados algo sobre seu comportamento (feedback) para ouvir. Com essa visão, a escuta cria um tipo especial de relacionamento supervisor-subordinado conhecido como experiência eu-você, enquanto o feedback provavelmente gera uma experiência eu-isso, em que o supervisor trata o subordinado como um objeto. A experiência eu-tu, por outro lado, permite que os subordinados reconheçam as fraquezas e os pontos fortes do seu comportamento sem a necessidade de feedback formal. Além disso, o modelo teórico especifica as condições de contorno. Especificamente, os benefícios de ouvir(a) são manifestados principalmente quando supervisor e subordinado formam um relacionamento em uma base segura, e (b) comprometida quando as partes estão inseguramente anexadas.

A revisão da literatura confirma os benefícios de escutar, em relação ao feedback e o feedback procurado, mas sugere que o papel do estilo do relacionamento é mais complexo do que aquele proposto no modelo teórico.

Teoricamente, explicamos por que o feedback, e em menor medida o nível de feedback procurado, cria problemas de comunicação que impedem a melhoraria do desempenho. Na prática, nós apontamos algumas técnicas para escutar o subordinado, tal como círculos de escuta, e a entrevista de Feedforward, que pode melhorar a comunicação e finalmente o desempenho.

Feedback, Busca de feedback, Escutar

Papel conceitual

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships among supervisor feedback environment (SFE), leader-member exchange (LMX), organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and workplace deviant behavior (WDB). Specifically, it analyzed the mediating role of LMX.

With the data collected from 258 subordinate-supervisor pairs at various organizations in Taiwan, the authors examined the hypotheses by conducting structural equation modeling analyses.

The results revealed that: SFE is positively related to LMX; LMX is positively related to OCB, and negatively related to WDB; furthermore LMX fully mediates the relationships among SFE and both OCB and WDB.

This data are collected in Taiwan, hence it may affect the generalizability of the results.

Previous studies investigating the relationship between the feedback environment and organizational outcome variables focus on positive outcome variables. Thus, studies examining whether there is a negative effect on negative outcome variables such as WDB are insufficient. The study addresses this deficiency by including WDB as an outcome variable. The results empirically indicate that SFEs are negatively related to WDBs, but the effect diminishes when LMX is controlled.

This study presents the following practical implications for managers. To reduce employee deviant behavior, to improve employee supplementary performance, and further improve overall organizational operating performance, organizations can adopt methods for implementing SFE that promote good interpersonal relationships between supervisors and employees, and thus increase employees’ positive expression of OCB, and reduce deviant behavior.

It can be argued that when supervisors and subordinates form good relationships, the supervisors would provide favorable feedback that may result in more OCBs and less WDBs. It is also possible to argue that the traditional LMX theory suggests that supervisors are dominant in determining the quality of LMX, and therefore good LMX relationships cannot be developed based on supervisory feedback. This study shows otherwise, and addresses the rival hypothesis by drawing from previous studies and theories as well as in comparing the proposed alternative model by conducting χ2 differences.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the boundary conditions in the relationship between feedback-seeking behavior (FSB) and work performance. The authors hypothesized that the positive influence of employees’ FSB on their work performance is influenced by perceived quality of feedback. The authors also expected that employees’ trust in their supervisors moderated the interaction between their FSB and perceived feedback quality.

Data were collected from 202 employees in South Korea. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to test the hypothesis.

The results showed that while employees’ FSB was positively related to work performance, the influence was stronger for employees who perceived they were receiving high quality of feedback from supervisors. The authors also found that the moderating effect of feedback quality on the relationship between FSB and work performance was stronger when employees had high levels of trust in their supervisors.

The findings suggest that if managers wish to encourage employees to achieve work goal and desirable performance levels by actively engaging in FSB, they should pay more attention to providing high quality of feedback and building trust with employees.

This study contributes to expand the understanding of FSB-work performance relationship by verifying the boundary conditions, which suggests the importance of examining the moderating factors in the FSB mechanism.

Burnout among first-line police in China is high. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between feedback environment, feedback orientation, psychological empowerment, and burnout as related to the police work.

An empirical study was conducted with a sample of 437 basic-level policemen and policewomen in the Shandong province of China. Participants completed a series of questionnaires including the supervisor feedback environment scale, feedback orientation scale, psychological empowerment scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory.

The results indicate that police supervisor feedback environment is negatively related to burnout. The relationship between the supervisor feedback environment and burnout is perfectly mediated by psychological empowerment and significantly moderated by feedback orientation. The mediation effect of psychological empowerment is significantly influenced by feedback orientation.

The findings have contributed to answering several recent questions in the feedback-burnout literature. The authors stress that leaders should strive to build a supportive feedback environment for employees.

Research in performance feedback has suggested that supervisors are reluctant to deliver negative feedback to avoid difficult future interaction and other unfavourable reactions from subordinates. This study examines the counter effects of mediating factors of negative feedback. A total of 248 employees from two joint ventures in China took part in a questionnaire survey. Results of the study indicate that subordinates who perceive that a criticism is delivered for their benefit respond positively. Theoretical importance and managerial implications of the present findings are discussed.