More than Idol Feedback, Part 4 of 4 “Fair and Balanced”
May 26th, 2009This is the final post of four in which we examine providing feedback to young employees using the famed American Idol judging panel as a metaphor to examine various management critiquing styles. If you haven’t been following the series, it is suggested that you begin with the first post and make your way through the first three.
We’re going to turn our attention to the style of the newest judge on the AI stage, but before we do, it’s important to separate your feelings for this show, the contestants, whether of not you feel they should have added a 4th judge, or even for the judges themselves, and focus on the real goal here which is to improve how we provide feedback to young employees using the styles of the AI judges for illustrative purposes.
When it comes to writing hit songs, Kara DioGuardi is a superstar. She burst on to Idol’s Season 8 with the street cred of a Kobe Bryant in a pick-up game and quickly impacted the way the game was played. Although many Idolmaniacs didn’t like the addition of a 4th judge, Kara’s fair and balanced style of providing feedback has improved the show, and arguably, improved those that dare to compete on this stage.
Kara doesn’t allow her opinions and remarks to be influenced by the comments of other judges, or the roars of the crowd. She is a free-thinker and frequently offers advice and coaching for a contestant that, if taken to heart, will make them better.
Although Kara’s criticism of a performance can be stern and direct, she is careful to separate the performance from the performer and leave the contestant with their dignity intact and their head up. When she is truly wow’ed by a performance, her enthusiasm spills over, (i.e to Adam Lambert, “You are a Rock god!”) However, rather than simply gushing praise like Paula, she provides the specific reasons why the performance was a winner so that the contestant can repeat those behaviors and get even better.
If you polled the contestants from Season 8 and asked them to ‘judge the judges’, I believe the end result would reveal that Randy is too obscure, Paula is too soft, and Simon is too harsh. But because she always lets each contestant know what they did well and what they need to do to get better–and she does so with class and conviction–the contestants would tell you that when it comes to providing feedback, Kara’s style is just right.
This is the way I see it anyway, and I welcome your feedback.
