The importance of feedback in the workplace cannot be overemphasized as it is known to increase staff morale. A workplace needs feedback to succeed and thrive. One great thing that feedback does is that it helps employees to know more about themselves and their behavior. It also increases their self-awareness and encourages personal development.
One important thing to note is that feedback doesn’t have to always be positive, it also can be negative. Although, when giving negative feedback, one has to be very constructive so that it won’t sound derogatory and offensive. Negative feedback comprises areas where one is not doing great which calls for improvement.
Giving negative feedback can be sometimes difficult because humans tend to internalize criticism much more than positive remarks. So, when giving negative feedback, one should first commend an individual on areas where he or she has done well before they go-ahead to talk about the areas that need improvement.
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In the workplace, constructive feedback is one of the best things employers can give to their employees because when it is delivered effectively, it can reinforce positive behavior, create a strong work culture, and enable employees to correct negative performance in the workplace.
One important thing to note about giving feedback in the workplace is that it should be done regularly because by doing so, an employer develops a great way to rapport with the team. Also, feedback should be given immediately after an event or incident. An employer should not delay in giving feedback because it is usually effective when the incident or behavior is still fresh.
The manager must note that they should abstain from using negative phrases when giving feedback because doing so often causes an employee to ignore and disregard the feedback. Managers must always try to use encouraging words when giving employees feedback because they will always see the need to improve.
Employees need to receive feedback about how they are performing so that they will know where to improve. When employees improve based on feedback received, it brings about improved productivity in the workplace.
According to Harvard Business Review, 72% of people feel their performance would improve if their managers provided corrective feedback. Another survey suggests that 57% of people prefer corrective feedback to purely praise and recognition. Looking at the aforementioned surveys, it therefore shows that a large percentage of employees do not mind receiving negative feedback, as a lot of them want to succeed in their workplace.
Also, on the other hand, positive feedback gives them a sense of purpose because naturally, humans love to be appreciated for their efforts. Constant feedback improves employees engagement because a study showed that 4 in 10 workers are actively disengaged when they receive little or no feedback. That is to say no matter how silent most employees are on feedback, a large number of them crave it.
Final Thoughts
It is therefore important for employers to ensure that they give regular feedback in the workplace because feedback is a tool that can help employees evaluate themselves and their work. While employees need to receive feedback, it’s also essential for leaders who believe in growth to ask for an evaluation, to set an example, and be an inspiration for them.