The folks at Freakonomics Radio have an excellent new podcast.
So when is a negative a positive? When the negative is feedback. We focus on a clever research project byAyelet Fishbach of the University of Chicago andStacey Finkelstein at Columbia. It argues that positive feedback certainly has its role — especially when someone isn’t yet fully invested in a new project or job — but if it’s improvement you’re after, then going negative is where it’s at:
The bottom line is – want to get better at something then ask someone what you are doing wrong. Unfortunately, this means that the current generation will never get better at anything because everybody gets a ribbon for turning up.
PS Sorry about the 70’s tight white pants but Errol Brown was the man……
Completely agree. Unfotunately self esteem and motivation became linked and so education in particular, followed the idea that if you made kids feel good, they could try and achieve anything.
It turns out this was bull. Research is now showing these kids bully more and can’t cope with failure. Also no amount of self esteem compensates for lack of talent.
Thanks for this one Daddy Cool…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImBMIk3fZIQ