Good parents openly affirm their children: "We appreciate your good behavior." Or, "You're doing a great job in school." They also know when to discipline: "If you jump on your bed again, you will be punished." Thus, children know where they stand and what they need to do.

Staff members need similar feedback. They should not be left wondering. What does my supervisor think of my work? Am I valuable here? Do I make a difference? The more secure an employee is, the more freedom with which he can operate. That's why leaders need to offer accurate and honest evaluations of those they lead.

I emphasize accurate and honest for good reason. If feedback is inaccurate - all sugar and spice, or clearly out of touch with reality - people lose respect for it. In other words, if I praise efforts for a job poorly done, workers will lose respect for my opinion. Similarly, if feedback is dishonest - if I twist the facts or misrepresent a person's performance - the person naturally will lose trust.

Excerpted from Support Your Staff, a new downloadable resource from Gifted for Leadership.