Feedback: A Critical Leadership Resource.

Abstract : Feedback has long been suggested to be a very import ant resource for the self-regulation of behavior, and adaptation to one's environment. The feedback process is a very complex issue and one that is not well understood by many leaders and managers. At all leadership levels, feedback is becoming one of the most important resources concerning job related performance. Additionally, feedback will be a key tool for the development of the interpersonal relationships critical for building effective teams and coalitions in the multicultural and multinational operational environment of the future. The environmental and organizational conditions that are changing the leadership paradigm, suggesting an expanded set of leadership competencies are discussed. A common element in these competencies seems to be the notion of feedback, particularly from peers. Feedback is described and the key aspects of feedback and the feedback process are reviewed. Recommendations for developing a better feedback process for leader development in the U.S. Army are presented.