In many organizations it strikes me how difficult people find it to give each other good feedback. The most frequently heard comments are "you won't do that anyway" or "I'll watch out, it could just cost me my ass. When I hear things like that, I associate it more with fear than with the opportunity to develop. Feedback is often linked to firm criticism, directed at another person for doing something wrong. How unfortunate is that! But why is it that people actually associate feedback with criticism? And how can an online feedback tool help in this process?
Security and trust
For an organization that values development, continuous feedback is vital. Whether it's about strategy: 'are we on the right course,' which requires feedback, or feedback at the individual level. In fact, what you want is for people to feel free to ask for, give and receive feedback. From customers, colleagues and managers. And this can be done very well from a basis in which, above all, feedback is reinforced. First learn to name the good things about each other. Only when that is firmly established do you move on to criticism. I once read that critical notes hit five times harder than compliments. Then it's not surprising, in our straightforward culture, that people bend over. To make sure they don't get hurt. And rightly so.
Responsibility
Expressing feedback gives you a responsibility; to think about what you want to say. To make sure another person can develop with it, instead of spouting what bothers you. It gives you a responsibility to think about why you think about something; before you respond to someone else. That is why it is so important to teach people to give appreciative feedback first. Therein lies a great opportunity for many organizations! People who have learned to give and receive good feedback will do much better towards customers and managers. Give them that responsibility and you will see that it is a flywheel for growth.
Anonymous feedback via an online feedback tool
I also come across organizations that work with anonymous feedback (for example, via an online feedback tool), which is the ultimate form of fear. Expressing criticism without a sender reminds me of all kinds of ranting tweets on the Internet in which just about anything can be said. Or even anonymous feedback that is included in assessment rounds. This takes the responsibility away from people, while that is where it all starts. In Tream s online feedback tool it is not possible to give anonymous feedback. And so we certainly have our reasons for that. Fear is a very bad advisor, you get distorted responses that take on a life of their own.
Rating
Learning to give compliments is not in our nature. We like and are quick to see what is wrong, especially with the other person and not so much with ourselves. While no one likes criticism of their person. Because in the end, we are all human beings who want to belong. And above all: we want so badly to do very well. In my view, growth and development can only happen if the foundation lies in appreciative feedback. And I don't mean the sandwich method, where there is always something negative in the second instance. No, genuinely learning to see what your own qualities are, so that you can more easily name the qualities of another. The knife then cuts both ways: you start to appreciate yourself more, you become more solid also because of the appreciative feedback from others. And you are thus able to give your colleagues a boost. Who in turn can give you a boost. Because that's what we all want, to be appreciated for who we are. And working in an organization that values that, that's what you love to work for!
How can an online feedback tool help you?
Do you want to be agile as an organization and respond to change at any time? So then feedback is very important. In addition, in the changing world it is relevant to be digital. The advantage of an online feedback tool is therefore that you can retrieve feedback anywhere and anytime. For example, a good feedback tool also helps you ask for and give feedback. In Treams , for example, you get a list of more than 100 standard questions in different categories. An online feedback tool is not necessarily a replacement for the good conversation, but rather an enrichment. It is very nice to always have your feedback at hand when you have a conversation with your coach or manager. A tool also makes it easy to give compliments. When you get a notification that you have received a compliment, you want to read it immediately. This positivity is guaranteed to increase your work happiness.
Many young companies have set up feedback in a different and very nice way. Colleagues give each other "thumbs up" and customers are also asked what they think. In an appreciative and empowering way. You can see the growth and strength in these companies.
I say: do it!
Yolande van der Veer - Expert