Feedback is a vital part of any leader’s skill set. Project managers, team leaders, teachers, coaches develop this skill over the course of their careers. Not just giving feedback, but also receiving it is essential for information sharing within teams. Let’s take a closer look at its value and learn how to get better at providing it. Constructive feedback is a robust tool for creating a healthy environment, boosting productivity and engagement, and achieving better results. It positively influences communication, team members’ interaction and teamwork results in different fields. Here’s how it works for different processes:
● The importance of feedback in the workplace is hard to overestimate: sharing information on what one needs to be improved helps optimize the work process and get things done in less time.
● Feedback is of great help in leadership and communication: it creates a clear picture and increases transparency.
● Feedback plays a crucial role in learning: by using new information and avoiding repetitive mistakes.
● The same applies to feedback in sports and coaching: it helps learn new skills and get better results.
1. Feedback keeps everyone on track. That’s beneficial for everyone involved in any type of activities: working on a project, preparing for an event, studying, etc.
2. Feedback helps your team avoid major mistakes. By creating a clear and honest communication flow during any kind of teamwork, it saves you the time of correcting someone’s work, reduces errors caused by miscommunication to a minimum.
3. You form better relationships. Feedback promotes honesty and trust. It often involves criticism, which is something most people aren’t comfortable with. But when given in the right way, it can help them evolve.
4. Constructive feedback motivates people. A friendly approach works well here. You can not only help others see what they might be doing wrong, but allow them to use this as a piece of advice, not judgment. Make them feel like you believe in them and just want to help them reach the project’s goal sooner. That will make them even more motivated to do a good job.
5. Feedback promotes personal professional growth. Feedback is about listening actively, taking the time to analyze, and then thinking of the best possible solution to perform better. It provides positive criticism and allows seeing what everyone can change to improve their focus and results. It brings people together and creates a healthy communication flow.
6. Feedback helps to create a friendly work environment. Openness to criticism and an urge to share feedback help you save time. It’s not uncommon that the best ideas come from someone on the team who simply mentions a solution to a problem or points out an issue that others haven’t noticed yet.
7. Feedback produces some business-related, direct benefits. Feedback brings about business growth, saves money, more sales, timely completion of projects and other positive changes in finance, customer relationships and company’s market positions. All this makes people on the team more engaged in the work process. You might notice they show more involvement and loyalty once giving feedback becomes a regular practice.
The Skill of Providing Feedback
For a team leader, manager, or teacher, the importance of feedback can’t be overestimated. While it is a powerful practice that creates a visible positive effect, it can also hurt people, lower their self-esteem or make them feel underappreciated. To do this right, plan your approach in advance. Take into account some simple advice on what to do and what not to do when providing feedback and receiving it.
● First, avoid anything that can be heard as blaming or judging: you want to motivate people and show them area for improvement, not the opposite. Always explain your team about how to open communication for improvements. Mention their strengths first, after which you can suggest points they can help them improve their weaknesses.
● Make sure you’re specific and use evidence. Your employees should Know exactly what aspect of the project you’re talking about.
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