CLM Communication & Feedback Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A mentee repeatedly interrupts colleagues in team meetings. The mentor has observed this twice. What is the best timing for feedback?
- At the next scheduled monthly check-in
- Immediately after the second observed incident, privately (Correct answer)
- Only after colleagues formally complain
- During the mentee's annual review
Correct answer: Immediately after the second observed incident, privately
Timely, private feedback after a repeated pattern is observed is more effective than delayed feedback, while still being respectful of the mentee's dignity.
Question 2: Which questioning technique best helps a mentee develop self-awareness about a communication blind spot?
- Leading questions that guide them to the correct answer
- Closed questions to confirm factual details
- Socratic questions that prompt reflection on their own behavior (Correct answer)
- Multiple-choice questions to narrow down the issue
Correct answer: Socratic questions that prompt reflection on their own behavior
Socratic questioning prompts the mentee to examine their own assumptions and behaviors, fostering self-directed insight rather than dependence on the mentor.
Question 3: What does 'psychological safety' mean in the context of a mentoring feedback conversation?
- Ensuring the conversation is kept strictly confidential from HR
- The mentee's belief that they can speak honestly without fear of punishment (Correct answer)
- Using only positive feedback to protect the mentee's self-esteem
- Conducting sessions in a private physical space
Correct answer: The mentee's belief that they can speak honestly without fear of punishment
Psychological safety, as defined by Amy Edmondson, is the shared belief that the relationship is safe for interpersonal risk-taking including honest disclosure.
Question 4: A mentor sends a long, detailed email critiquing a mentee's presentation. The mentee reads it as harsh and demotivating. What communication principle was likely violated?
- The principle of confidentiality
- The principle of medium selection — sensitive feedback requires a richer channel (Correct answer)
- The principle of brevity
- The principle of positive framing
Correct answer: The principle of medium selection — sensitive feedback requires a richer channel
Media richness theory holds that sensitive or complex messages require richer channels (face-to-face or video) that convey tone and allow immediate clarification.
Question 5: Which element of nonverbal communication carries the most weight in face-to-face feedback conversations, according to Mehrabian's research?
- The actual words spoken
- The tone and pitch of voice
- Facial expressions and body language (Correct answer)
- The pace of speech
Correct answer: Facial expressions and body language
Mehrabian's research suggested that in emotionally charged conversations, body language accounts for the largest share of the message's perceived meaning.
Question 6: A mentee asks their mentor for feedback but then argues with every point raised. Which mentoring technique helps redirect this dynamic?
- Discontinue the feedback session and reschedule
- Ask the mentee to summarize what they heard before responding (Correct answer)
- Provide only written feedback going forward
- Agree with the mentee to restore harmony
Correct answer: Ask the mentee to summarize what they heard before responding
Asking the mentee to summarize the feedback before reacting slows the defensive reflex and creates a moment of reflection that can shift the dynamic.
Question 7: In the GROW model, what role does feedback play during the 'Reality' phase?
- Feedback is deferred until the 'Way Forward' phase
- Feedback provides an honest assessment of the current situation and performance gaps (Correct answer)
- Feedback is used to set the goal at the start of the model
- Feedback is only given by the mentee about the mentor's performance
Correct answer: Feedback provides an honest assessment of the current situation and performance gaps
In the Reality phase of GROW, honest feedback helps the mentee accurately assess their current state, which is essential for identifying the gap between now and their goal.
CLM Communication & Feedback Techniques 3
A mentee repeatedly interrupts colleagues in team meetings.
The mentor has observed this twice.
What is the best timing for feedback?