How to give proper feedback

How often have you given or received feedback in your workplace? Does the word 'feedback' make you anxious, and if so, why? In today's modern organizations, feedback has become a vital part of successful cooperation and growth. Because of that, we need to break down the barriers to giving and receiving feedback.

Through this blog, we will explore the importance of a feedback culture and how to properly give feedback to peers, team members, and superiors. But before we dive deeper into the essence, let's ask some questions, stop and think about it:

• Do you feel comfortable receiving criticism or feedback?
• How has the culture of giving feedback evolved in companies?
• What are the advantages of developing a feedback culture?
  
  
  

Then and now: The evolution of feedback

Feedback culture can exist in a workplace, a classroom, or anywhere else where people feel free to communicate their perspectives and evaluations of situations without fear of repercussions.

To understand the current feedback culture, it is essential to look back and consider how it has evolved.

Decades ago, feedback in many companies was often reserved for formal performance evaluations through periodic reviews. In traditional workplaces, performance is discussed in one direction, once a year (if you're lucky!), and is simply one person's assessment of how another is doing. 

In today's world, however, companies recognize the value of continuous, comprehensive, feedback. This above all allows employees to adapt and grow in their roles more quickly. Well, think about how rich a performance review could be if the results were based on information received from everyone a person interacts with!?

 

Now that we understand the changes in the feedback culture, let's explore how constructive feedback affects us on a psychological level.

The psychological benefits: 5 aspects of constructive feedback 

 

Several aspects of our emotional and mental well-being are related to giving and receiving feedback.

 

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of feedback culture:

• Boosts confidence: When we receive constructive feedback, it can help us feel more confident about our abilities and trust in ourselves. It helps us gain a deeper understanding of ourselves because it highlights areas where we excel and those where we can make improvements. 

 

• Reduces stress and anxiety: Opening up a dialogue through feedback can reduce stress arising from uncertainty or workplace conflicts.

 

• Performance improvement: Specific advice from feedback can help us develop skills and competencies more rapidly. It helps us to see our strengths and weaknesses. It offers specific guidance on how to improve our performance and achieve better results. By acting upon feedback, we can continually improve our skills and abilities and even to reduce skill gaps.

 

• Improves relationships: Constructive feedback can foster better relationships with colleagues as it encourages open communication. It creates a culture of transparency and trust, allowing for more meaningful interactions. Addressing issues through feedback can prevent conflicts from escalating and help maintain positive connections. Also, it reduces the feeling of diversity in the workplace, and wherever you are from or whoever you are - you have the feeling of belonging. 

 

• Increased motivation: Positive feedback and recognition for our achievements boost our motivation. A recent Officevibe survey found that “78 percent of employees said being recognized motivates them in their job.” Knowing that our efforts are appreciated and acknowledged encourages us to strive for excellence. Constructive feedback, when delivered effectively, reinforces our commitment to our goals.

 

Stay with us as we explore how to develop feedback-giving skills that are valuable for your career and your organization.

Different methods of delivering feedback: the art of giving constructive and destructive feedback

 

Feedback comes in various forms, and the way it is delivered can have a significant impact on its effectiveness. Constructive feedback is aimed at helping individuals improve, while destructive feedback can be demoralizing and counterproductive. Let's explore the different methods of delivering feedback:

• Constructive feedback: This type of feedback focuses on specific behaviors or actions and provides clear, actionable suggestions for improvement. It is usually delivered in a supportive and empathetic manner, emphasizing growth and development.

 

• Destructive feedback: Destructive feedback often lacks specificity and can be overly critical or negative. It may attack a person's character rather than address their actions, which can lead to defensiveness and resentment.

 

So, now we know that constructive feedback fosters growth and teamwork, while destructive feedback can erode trust and morale. Recognizing the difference between these feedback types is essential for building a positive feedback culture, and it also sets the stage for exploring technology's impact. But, how can we improve giving feedback?

And, how can technology help us?

The influence of technology on feedback culture

 

In today's digital age, technology plays a key role in shaping how feedback is given and received, who is included in the feedback process, and the overall landscape of feedback. Employee management software is a real thing today. Here are several ways in which technology aids in improving the process of giving and receiving feedback:

• 360-degree feedback improves the diversity of input:

 

With normal performance reviews, you rarely see the full picture: your judgment is often clouded by your perspective and unconscious biases. With a proper 360-degree evaluation, you get others to fill in the "rear view" and help you see what you couldn't quite picture before. This comprehensive feedback provides a holistic view of performance and capabilities, identifying clear areas for growth. Aaand if you use 360 feedback software - you are winning! The software will also give you a clear picture but at the same time it will save time and money, so HR managers will have more time to invest in other tasks.

Technology enables the implementation of 360-degree evaluations, where individuals receive feedback from peers, managers, and direct reports.

• Faster and more efficient communication:

 

Technological tools facilitate faster and more efficient communication, eliminating geographical barriers and time limitations.

• Analytics provide deeper insights:

 

Technology offers analytical tools that aggregate and analyze feedback, providing organizations with deeper insights into trends and patterns.

These insights can inform employee development strategies and performance enhancements.

• Accessible and anonymous feedback:

 

Online platforms often allow for anonymous feedback, encouraging honesty and openness in assessments.

Employees feel more comfortable expressing their opinions and suggesting improvements.

• Flexibility and adaptability:

 

Technology allows for flexibility in the feedback process, including various formats, methods, and frequencies.This enables organizations to adapt more rapidly to changes and address challenges in real time.

 

In summary, technology is a crucial partner in enhancing the process of giving and receiving feedback. 

Imagine how groundbreaking it would be to combine all these features - 360-degree evaluations, fast and efficient communication, in-depth analytics, accessible feedback, and adaptability - into one comprehensive tool!

Such a solution would not only revolutionize the way organizations give and receive feedback but also accelerate employee growth and development…Aaand we know one solution like this!

 

Conclusion

 

Feedback shapes us, and that’s its power. The sooner we understand its importance and accept it, the sooner we will start spreading the positive influence in our own environment.