Elevating Team Excellence via the Playing Cards Method™ for Feedback
Transforming ambiguous commentary into actionable insights to drive organizational growth.
Data suggests that 96% of professionals value regular feedback as a developmental tool. Nevertheless, only 50% of employees consistently adjust their behaviors post-feedback. This gap often stems from a lack of clarity and actionability. For feedback to be effective, it must be receivable (minimizing defensiveness), actionable (defining specific behaviors), and balanced (maintaining a healthy ratio of praise and critique).
The Playing Cards Method™: A Framework for Quality
This methodology utilizes card suits to help leaders distinguish between high-impact and low-impact feedback:
1. Actionable Feedback (Specific and Practical):
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Spades (♠️): Represent constructive critiques. Like a tool for excavation, Spades help “dig out” root issues for improvement.
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Example: Instead of “You were rude,” use “I noticed you rolled your eyes during the briefing, which made me hesitant to share my views.”
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Diamonds (♦️): Represent valuable praise. These identify specific successful behaviors that should be replicated.
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Example: “I liked how you inquired about the client’s concerns; it allowed us to tailor our proposal effectively.”
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2. Non-Actionable Feedback (Vague and Ineffective):
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Clubs (♣️): Ambiguous criticisms that leave the recipient feeling attacked without a clear path for correction.
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Hearts (♥️): Friendly but superficial praise that fails to reinforce specific performance-driving habits.
Strategies for Effective Delivery
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The Micro-Yes™: Initiate the interaction with a brief permission-seeking question (e.g., “Do you have a moment to discuss…?”) to ensure the recipient is mentally prepared for a two-way dialogue.
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Avoiding Blur Words™: Eliminate subjective terms that are open to interpretation. Focus on observable data—actions that could be captured by a camera lens.
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“Card Counting” Culture: Monitor daily interactions to determine if the organization leans toward “Hearts and Clubs” (low value) or “Spades and Diamonds” (high impact) to systematically refine the internal feedback culture.
Source: https://www.lifelabslearning.com/blog/deal-out-better-feedback-at-work
