The E.R.A.S.E.R. MethodMar 4th, 2013 | By Editorial Staff | Category: Geri Roskopf's Blog
It’s not easy to talk to someone about something negative and often there’s an awkwardness in even telling someone they’ve done something well. Having a script ready, however, makes it easy and ideally it will erase offending behavior.
I recently read about the E.R.A.S.E.R. method of dealing with criticism and praise. The acronym is direct, honest and the method produces positive results. Each letter stands for a suggested step for a courageous conversation. E for Exact, R for Result, A for Aware, S for Switch, E for Evidence and R for Reward.
The article started out by saying timing was very important. You will want to say something as soon as the behavior occurs. The closer the conversation is to the behavior, the more likely it is to change. It was suggested to only use this script for a change in one offending behavior at a time.
Next, you need to take an honest look and decide whether this behavior is the person’s problem or yours. In most cases, I found it probably is a little bit of both. If you decide the behavior warrants a courageous conversation, you need to start with something positive, then be clear and specific and make sure they have the time to talk.
Exact – in this first step, examine the person’s behavior. Separate your opinions and perceptions from the behavior – state only the facts.
Result – tell the person what happens as a result of the behavior.
Aware – make the person aware of how you feel.
Switch – ask the person what he or she might do instead of their current behavior.
Evidence – if you are concerned the person may backslide into an old behavior, outline what will happen or stop happening as a result of the behavior modification. This will eliminate the need to repeat the request over and over.
Reward – some people are motivated by rewards and some are persuaded through the prospect of punishment. Think about what motivates the person you are talking to.
The author suggested this method works when you are the boss and/or a parent. To me, on some days there isn’t a difference.