Tell me more about Feedback Animal Cards

These cards are a lighthearted way to think about different styles of giving feedback – don't worry, it's not a psychometric test or personality quiz! We're not scientists; just four people who've given and received a lot of feedback over the years.

Everyone's different, right? We all have our own style for giving feedback and preferences for how we like to receive it.

When we understand more about the ways we give feedback, and even how our teammates do too, it helps us have better feedback conversations. A study by Buckingham, M., & Goodall, A. (2019) in the Harvard Business Review, reported teams that consistently give and receive constructive feedback build a culture of psychological safety, which leads to greater performance.

The conversation is just getting started. Read on for ideas on how to make the most of what you learn from this quick Feedback Animal Cards activity. We've also shared suggestions on how you can build a stronger feedback culture in your team and some next steps to boost your feedback skills.

Why would I use the Feedback Animal Cards?

This exercise is for anyone who gives feedback at work - which is EVERYONE!

Do any of these scenarios resonate with you? If so, Feedback Animal Cards will help grow your feedback-giving muscle.

I'm curious to learn more about feedback!
Giving feedback is increasingly part of my role and frankly it scares me. I want to get better at it.
I know the way I give feedback will change depending on the situation. I want to get better at being able to change my feedback style when it's needed.
There are some people that just don't get the feedback I give. It doesn't seem to make any useful difference.
The last few times I've given feedback to a particular person, it hasn't gone well. I'm scared that if I do it again, I'll permanently scar our relationship.
There's just something about me. Every time someone wants to give me feedback I feel sick in the stomach and that puts me on the back foot.
I don't see my boss day to day, but then they insist on giving me feedback about how I do my job and act around others. It's like they're ticking a box, and it's a waste of my time.
Leaders at my company always talk about how we have a great culture of feedback. We've got loads of forms and processes but I can't remember the last time I heard something useful in a way that showed that they really 'get' me.

How long does it take?

Typically 10 minutes

Can you explain the activity instructions in more detail?

Yes! We've elaborated on the instructions on the web page for those people who appreciate a little more detail.

Use the Feedback Animal cards to better understand different feedback styles.

Each Animal Card represents an archetype for giving feedback. They are intentionally simplified to make it easier to reflect and have conversations.

Assume that everyone has good intentions at heart, we just have different feedback approaches.

There are no wrong Feedback Animal Cards.
Your approach to giving feedback may vary depending on; your experience at giving feedback, who you're giving feedback to, the specific feedback you're providing, your workplace culture and how safe you feel to give feedback. All of this detail provides the 'context' for your feedback approach.

Read each of the Feedback Animal cards. Learn more about each animal by clicking on the card.

When you flip the card over, you'll find a link to a detailed description of each Feedback Animal. It's helpful to read through the description.

Select and drag the Feedback Animal card onto the table. Choose the card that feels most like you in your current role.

It's common for people to move between a range of feedback styles when giving feedback, depending on the context. For this exercise choose the Feedback Animal Card that feels most like you in your current role, or that you're most comfortable with.
Note that there are two feedback options on the table; giving and receiving. Often people have a different preference for how they typically like to receive feedback in their current role, compared to how they typically give it.

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New: option to customise:

We recommend starting with the two questions on the table. However, you also have the option to write your own animal card question by clicking on the pencil icon under the card drop zone.

Examples:

When I'm under pressure I give feedback this way...
My secondary animal archetype for giving feedback is...

Use these insights as part of team building, or start a conversation with your coach on how to grow your feedback skills. You'll find more information on how to use the Feedback Animal Cards in the menu.

This exercise is a conversation starter. To get the most out of it, reflect on how you can use it to build your personal and/or team feedback effectiveness. You'll find prompts on how to start the conversations in the What next? section.

To reset, just refresh your screen.

No information is saved in this activity. So if you'd like to start over, just refresh the screen. If you'd like to keep a record of your selection then we suggest taking a screen shot.