Feedback is ostensibly based on the perception of an objective reality that does not actually exist.

The idiosyncratic rater effect demonstrates that more than 60% of feedback is attributable to the provider.

Feedback is more palatable and actionable when framed as reflecting the needs of others, rather than judgment.

All feedback should begin and end with, "For me," making it more accurate, constructive, and persuasive.

Co-authored with Laura Martin

We humans have a strange tendency to ignore hard science in our day-to-day thinking. We can consciously acknowledge the placebo effect while simultaneously scoffing at the suggestion that mere positive thinking can cure illness.

And when it comes to providing feedback (or testimony of any kind, for that matter), there is an even bigger scientific elephant in the room that we choose to ignore: physics. Because we have to pretend that an objective reality actually exists.

The observer effect describes how the mere existence of observation affects the reality that is being observed. In some cases, it’s pretty straightforward. If we want to measure the air pressure in our tires, we let out a little air as we attach the gauge. Checking tire pressure affects the tire pressure being checked.

But when we get to quantum physics, it reveals something our brains are not able to process so easily. Mere observation, without physical interaction, or even presence, affects the outcome. And we’re not talking about psychological human behavior, here. We’re talking about the laws of the physical universe, like the presence of light.

It’s easy to conceptualize someone’s performance as being affected by an awareness that someone is watching them. It’s a lot harder to wrap our minds around the idea that........

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