We can’t overlook the importance of employee feedback. It is not only a critical factor to create a positive office environment but also plays an integral role in business success. The biggest companies are built on strong relationships, and effective communication is the cornerstone of maintaining those relationships.
What Is Employee Feedback?
Employee feedback in a workplace is when employees share information regarding performance, work culture, learning scope, team efforts, and skills. Supervisors and team members can provide feedback to each other, but it must be done tactfully to avoid conflicts. When done right, it can motivate employees to work more efficiently.
Why Is Feedback Important?
Whether it’s positive or negative, work feedback allows employees to share what they feel about the organization and work culture without any restrictions. When employers and supervisors listen to their complaints, ideas, and praises, employees feel valued and empowered.
Increases performance and productivity
Lack of communication or encouragement can hamper employee productivity. Therefore, companies need to realize the link between productivity and trust, which can be built through proper communication and feedback. It doesn’t have to be just positive feedback in the workplace, but sharing each other’s weaknesses and strengths, encouraging discussions, and inviting ideas can work wonders to improve performance.
Builds a positive company culture
When employers conduct monthly meetings with subordinates and colleagues to ask their views on the company’s core values, policies, and work culture, it creates a positive environment within the organization. This improves performance levels, teamwork, and engagement.
Ensures effective communication
Organizations that implement a seamless communication system where employees can share their feedback, put forth their views, and convey complaints have greater chances to attain their goals. Also, it avoids grapevine-based communication and makes peers more supportive of each other.
Increase employee retention
One of the biggest benefits of employee feedback is that it increases the retention rate. When employees feel appreciated and valued, they are more likely to invest their abilities, efforts, and time to grow the organization.
Enhances employee morale
When employees know that their work is noticed, they feel emotionally connected to the company. They understand that they are doing an excellent job and that their every task matters. This helps them develop a positive attitude at work with high morale.
Creates a skilled workforce
Continuous feedback from supervisors and the support of peers helps employees upskill themselves and boost their careers. When they know the areas they need to work on and the ones that they are good at, they learn and grow more effectively.
Types of Employee Feedback
When we talk about feedback, it doesn’t necessarily mean reviewing employees’ work and pointing out mistakes. Yes, you need to provide feedback to employees for improvement but with that, you must also appreciate them when for their excellent job. Considering the information you convey through feedback, we can divide it into three types:
Positive feedback
Through positive feedback, you focus on the strengths and accomplishments of your employees. This creates positive behavior within the organization and boosts the confidence of workers.
Negative feedback
Your negative feedback must highlight activities and approaches that are resulting in poor performance. You ask your employees to stop such behaviors to avoid any negative impact on the team.
Constructive feedback
Here, you share areas of weakness along with methods to overcome them. You address challenges by providing a few practical examples.
How to Ask for Employee Feedback?
Let’s understand how you can ask for employee feedback the right way:
Ask open-ended and specific questions, such as ‘How can we improve team collaborations?’ or ‘Do you need my help to prepare monthly reports?’. Encourage hesitant employees to share their feedback.
Be consistent and proactive to collect feedback from employees rather than waiting for scheduled meetings or special events.
You may get constructive criticism at times as part of feedback but always appreciate the employees for their honest opinion.
Conclude
Regular and well-received employee feedback brings more transparency to an organization, helps supervisors become better leaders, defines clear goals for every member, and prepares future leaders. Moreover, it enhances performance, work culture, engagement, and compensation. Hence, employers need to realize the true benefits of feedback in the workplace and it can accelerate the growth of their business.
About the author:
Kelly Barcelos is a progressive digital marketing manager for Jobsoid – Applicant Tracking System. She is responsible for leading the content and social media teams at work. Her expertise and experience in HR enable her to create value-driven content – both on Jobsoid’s blog and other guest blogs.
