4 Simple Steps To Improve How You Share Feedback
Offering feedback and realigning expectations with your nanny
A nanny-family relationship is not a stagnant one, it’s ever-changing and evolving. The things that were important a few months ago may seem like a distant memory as your child moves on to new developmental territory.
How can you and your nanny stay one step ahead when things are changing so quickly?
If you’ve been working with your nanny for a few months or even years, it’s important to check-in. To give both you and your nanny time to reassess and reflect on what is working well and what areas may need some refining.
TOPICS TO PUT ON THE AGENDA WITH YOUR NANNY: TEAM FAMILY!
We for one, setting up regular check-ins. I know the days and weeks just fly by and before you know it those deeper conversations go out the back door along with the cold peas! Now that you all have found a rhythm what better time to sit down and think about what the next few months will likely look like.
Your home is a home to you but it’s a work environment for your nanny. Ask yourself what type of work environment you enjoy and then apply that to the experience your nanny has with your family.
GIVE PRAISE:
Take time to tell her what you appreciate. Acknowledging achievements is the best way to ensure a happy and healthy work environment. Positive communication is the key to keeping your nanny feeling happy and motivated.
A good employer knows that if an employee enjoys what they are doing, they will excel so by now, you should know what her strengths are and where she lacks in enthusiasm.
ALIGN:
Any areas that need some fine-tuning can be addressed here. Research shows that feedback - positive or negative is best shared as soon as possible but how do we effectively communicate what we don’t like? We like to call it “the sandwich effect”. The truth is that the Nanny/Family partnership although it’s a professional relationship there is a “grey area”.
There is a fine line when navigating how to share negative feedback with your nanny. It’s a balance between transparency and taking a thoughtful approach.
First, identify your strategy for the conversation, be transparent with your expectations and engage your caregiver in a mutual learning approach. This allows transparency while involving another in your ultimate goal so you can move forward as a team.
Nobody likes to feel placated, manipulated or belittled so make sure that you involve them in the conversation, ask questions, listen and tackle problems together, hence the next two points. Your mindset will set the tone for the next two topics and show your nanny that you respect her!
LISTEN:
This should be a two-way conversation, just like the nanny/ family relationship your review shouldn’t be a stagnant one, it’s should be an active conversation.
Ask her how she is feeling and if she has any line items to discuss. Your nanny should be a part of the big picture so giving her an opportunity to help build the plan moving forward will make her feel valued and motivated.
Finding common goals and ways to achieve them together will bring you all together for the greater goal. Plus she may have some good ideas!
TACKLE:
Map out together a new roadmap of goals for the future. They may include, refining the morning or evening routine, tackling moving to solids or potty training.
Putting together a list of books or educational activities per age group or carving out some healthy meals for the week. Remember that you will want to identify some goals for the meeting.
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
You may be thinking:
I want to let Maria know how much we appreciate her and acknowledge her effort in preparing creative activities for the children each day.
I want to ask her to collaborate on how to continue to keep structure for the children while making it fun.
I also want to point out that we initially asked Maria to prepare healthy meals but she is still giving into afternoon sweet treats which derails dinner and bedtime routines.
I want to confirm this is a common goal and that she is on board with us on standing firm and only offering a healthy snack option.
I want to know how she can do better at this?
Creating the solution:
Maybe Maria will come up with a pre-approved afternoon snack menu that the children can each pick one snack from, like an orange or carrot sticks with ranch.
Or get the kids involved in making some healthy muffins!
Now Maria doesn’t feel like she is being micromanaged but counted on as a valued member of the household to combat a problem.
You and Maria tackled the problem together! Go team family!