Everyone likes to hear from time to time if they are doing well. We need feedback to grow and improve. As a child, you learn from what parents say, "Well done!" or "Look at how you can do this differently." Those words help develop self-confidence and skills. For employees, feedback is also super valuable input for development. At the same time, we are often afraid to be vulnerable and ask for feedback. But why really? We are afraid of being 'judged'. Too bad, because feedback can provide so much.
In this article, we give you 5 reasons why giving and asking for feedback is important.
1. Attention and recognition
Except for food, drink and safety, recognition and appreciation are the most important human life needs. We want to be seen and heard. At home, at school, while playing sports, but certainly also at work. We constantly want to hear if we are doing well or not well, and in this regard, "no news is bad news. Negative feedback can be harsh, but sincere, critical feedback gives you a chance to improve yourself. Without some recognition, we get frustrated and, in the worst cases, we even get angry at the person who doesn't give us the recognition.
When you are told by a colleague, supervisor or external that you are doing something well and he or she is willing to help you further in your growth and development, it gives a feeling of satisfaction. Employees will feel that they are contributing to the success of the organization. As a result, they will feel more freedom and responsibility, try out more things, want to get the best out of themselves and share knowledge with others. In addition, it is enormously contagious and super important to exchange feedback. When someone gives you concrete and sincere feedback, you want to do the same in return. Win-win, in other words.
2. Feedback gives direction
Compare it to a map (or Google Maps). If you want to take a trip to an unfamiliar destination, you probably won't get very far without a map. You don't know where to go and start driving around at random, probably without success. The same is true for feedback. Feedback gives you direction. Are you on the right track? What is going well and what is not going well? Thus, feedback helps you get to the next level every time, and gives you the coordinates for the final destination: reaching your goals.
E-book: step by step to a feedback culture
The switch to a feedback culture is not always easy. With this workbook we help you through assignments, tips & tricks and theory with the first steps to your feedback culture.
3. A broader self-image
Receiving feedback from different points of view will increase your self-image. For example, you are more likely to know where your blind spot lies, and the feedback you receive allows you to pay attention to this as well. Employees become more aware of their qualities. This promotes professional and personal growth and increases their potential. And thus: more talent within your organization!
4. Achieve goals and work more productively
Feedback is essential to staying in line with goals, developing strategies, improving products, services and relationships and ultimately achieving goals. Getting feedback helps you know what is going well, what is not going so well and what you need to improve to take your productivity to the next level.
5. Feedback increases work happiness
As we said in point 1, people increasingly need attention and recognition. Do they get this? Then they will go to work with more pleasure and thus this leads to more job happiness. In addition, an open feedback culture will ensure that there are fewer mutual frustrations and better cooperation between employees. What does all this add up to? Research done by Jacob Morgan, work happiness specialist, for his book ' The Employee Experience Advantage ' , found that organizations that invest in work happiness have 40% less turnover and make four times more profit.
Feedback through a tool
To really work on personal development, it is therefore essential that people receive feedback from different perspectives. Using an online feedback tool such as Treams , you can very easily ask for feedback from colleagues, managers and external people. In addition, you can ask and give feedback at any time of the day. A tool it helps you ask the right question. The nice thing about an app is that you can think carefully about what you want to ask. Think of feedback writing as slow thinking. It is a form of paying attention to each other to take your time and find the right words.
A tool makes asking for and giving feedback approachable, but it is important to eventually engage in the conversation "live" to go deeper into the content. Of course, there are also plenty of times when you can give feedback directly face to face. Then it's really nice to put your compliment in an app afterwards, so the other person can read it back later. Ultimately, the goal is to work toward an open and positive culture. Technology is just a tool in that.