When you're the leader, it can be tricky knowing how to best respond to feedback. On the one hand, you don't want to come across as defensive and make your team feel like their input isn't valuable. But on the other hand, you don't want to just take all their suggestions without considering them properly.
To get your team working effectively, one of the most important things you can do is learn the art of communication—and that includes responding to feedback in a way that makes your team members feel heard, respected, valued and boosts your employee recognition level.
Feedback—both positive and constructive—is key to the success of any business.
When you're able to have an open dialogue about what's working and what isn't, you can make necessary changes that result in a more positive work environment and improved morale. Also, your response can improve the employee experience in your company. This upbeat, feel-good effect will lead to more employee engagement resulting in high productivity and initiative.
Of course, this isn't to say that you should start soliciting feedback from your team members every five minutes. But, when an employee does come to you with feedback, it's vital that you take the time to listen and respond in a way that makes them feel valued. Even if you don't want to respond directly, you can go through the Human Resources department to get an objective third-party perspective.
Here are a few reasons why you need to respond to feedback:
When you take the time to listen to feedback and respond accordingly, it shows your team members that you value their opinion even if you disagree with them. This, in turn, makes them feel more comfortable coming to you with concerns or suggestions in the future.
Being responsive to feedback helps to build trust between you and your team members. They'll see that you're not just paying lip service to their opinions but that you're actually taking their feedback seriously and using it to make improvements.
When you're responsive to feedback, it helps improve the employee experience. Employees will feel like their voices are being heard and that their opinions matter. And a positive employee experience is essential to employee engagement and higher productivity.
We all love to be praised for a job well done, but sometimes it can be challenging to know how to respond to positive feedback, especially if it comes from your employees.
Here are a few tips on how to respond to positive feedback:
When you receive a compliment, the best thing you can do is simply say "thank you." But be sure to sound sincere when you say it. The last thing you want is for your team member to feel like you're just brushing off their compliment.
When you receive positive feedback, use it as an opportunity to build rapport with your employees. Speak with them, ask questions and simply let them know you see them. This simple gesture makes your employees feel appreciated and heard.
Reciprocate the gesture when an employee praises you by pointing out areas the employee is excelling. In time, this will help create a culture of feedback and appreciation in your workplace.
Many business owners get edgy and defensive when they receive criticism from their employees. But, if you want to be a successful leader, it's essential that you look at the feedback objectively and take what you can from it. Here are ways to take the bitter pill of negative criticism.
Nobody ever gets hurt by being open-minded. Understand that just because someone is offering suggestions on improving something doesn't mean they're trying to attack you or your ideas.
Try to see it from their perspective and understand where they're coming from. After all, they're just trying to help make the workplace better for everyone.
When you receive feedback, it's important to show your appreciation. Whether it's positive, constructive, or negative, feedback is always a valuable contribution. So, take the time to thank your team members for their input. And while at it, ask clarifying questions that will help you understand the employee's line of thought.
Even if the feedback you receive is negative, it's important to remain positive and keep your emotions in check. This doesn't mean that you have to agree with everything that's said, but you should try to see the silver lining. For example, if you receive criticism about a new product you're launching, try to see it as an opportunity to improve the product before it goes to the market.
Constructive feedback as a mechanism always helps you to improve your business. So, look at the issue your employee brought to you and try to see how you can use it to improve your product, service, or process.
An excellent way to show that you're open to constructive feedback is to thank the person for bringing the issue to your attention and then ask for their help finding a solution. Not only does this communicate a measure of respect for the employee, but it also shows that you are humane and open-minded, a quality that will foster trust and collaboration in your team.
Feedback, whether positive or negative, is essential for a healthy workplace. By learning how to respond to feedback, you can create a culture of appreciation and collaboration in your workplace. Today, more than ever, organizations all over the world are maximizing the feedback mechanism to improve their operations, create better systems and processes, and engage employees who are highly motivated.
You also learn how to use it to your advantage by helping your employees feel comfortable in bringing their concerns to you without feeling ignored or undermined. So, the next time you receive feedback, don't get defensive. Just take a deep breath and use it as an opportunity to improve your business.
Our team at Spring is always available to help you improve your employee experience by creating a culture of feedback and appreciation. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you build a better workplace.