Giving Feedback
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Giving feedback is a vital business communication skill. It is a two-way process of giving efficiently or receiving it constructively. Feedback is an essential part of business, education, and business trainings.
Usually, hearing the name of feedback creates a horrible picture in our mind of an employee being called upon at his superior’s office for the yearly or monthly performance appraisal, and he is lashed with severe criticism and daunting expressions from his boss. It is indeed, not the right method.
Feedback, if given in an efficient manner proves very motivating and helps in personal development. The employee receiving the feedback comes to know about his weak points, his strengths, the areas which need improvement, and the way he can further improve his performance. We mostly consider that feedback is only from the superior’s side to his subordinates, but, it is something that should occur in both directions. From top to bottom as well as from bottom to top level.
Importance of Giving Feedback in Business
- Giving feedback is not just the performance appraisals in the form of formal communication between a boss and his employee. Rather, feedback is happening at the business all the time. When we listen to somebody, speak to them, give a particular response, like or dislike something, we are making a feedback to a task.
- It is the cheapest and powerful form of communication used by the managers to improve the performance of their employees.
- Feedback provides an opportunity to motivate. When a boss encourages his subordinate over a project, then it encourages the employee, and he strives to do even better.
- If an employee is not giving his level best, then, through proper and constructive feedback, one can help him point out his mistakes and try to improve his performance through practical solutions presented to him.
- Feedback is a way of learning for each and every person of the organization. It is a two-way process in which everyone tries to learn something positive from the other person’s suggestions. It is all about mutual understanding, respecting each other’s opinions, and learning something from each other’s experiences.
How to Give Effective Feedback
- The first and the foremost thing is to be positive. Avoid negative comments and too much harsh criticism. It will discourage the employee. The more positive and encouraging you are, the more you are motivating your employee.
- Try to give feedback on time. The sooner you give feedback about a particular task, the better it is. It will be more efficient, if you give a response immediately after a day or two, rather than waiting for the whole year to end. The memory of the employee is still fresh about that particular task, and he better understands the situation.
- There is usually a formal feedback process which is given every six months or yearly, but there should be an informal kind of feedback which should be done from time to time. It is much better. You want to communicate something about an employee, then just say it to him. In this way, the employee feels a part of the organization and develops his interest level.
- Prepare your statements ahead so that you know what are you saying while giving feedback. This practice will help you to stay on track, and you won’t waste anybody’s time.
- Be clear and concise. Don’t exaggerate it too much and try to focus on specific and related facts. In this way, ambiguities are reduced.
- Always try to criticize in private because nothing is more discouraging than pointing out someone’s weaknesses in front of his colleagues.
- Don’t forget to give suggestions at the end. They are made to avoid the mistakes and how to improve the performance. It is helpful both for the employee and for the organization as well.
