Home
>
Team Building
>
Team Member Feedback: A Priceless Communication Tool

Team Member Feedback: A Priceless Communication Tool

Feedback is such an important communication tool. Openness, honesty, candor, trust -- all of these are hallmarks of high performance teams and organizations. Good feedback skills are essential to any relationship.

Feedback is important because:

- It prevents small issues from festering into unmanageable problems.

- It builds trust in relationships.

- It promotes personal and professional growth.

- It acknowledges individual and team accomplishments.

- It clears up misunderstandings.

- It is a way to acknowledge and recognize team members' skills and contributions.

As a result, effective feedback makes life at work a great deal easier and more rewarding.

So how do you give someone effective feedback? First, ensure your intention is to be helpful and supportive, rather than to "slam." Check to make sure the person wants and is ready to accept feedback, if you haven't been asked to provide it. Before providing your feedback, ask the person for their assessment of the situation.

But, how do you say it? What words do you use that will ensure the message is delivered properly? Be specific. Describe the actual behavior you observed, not personality traits. Avoid generalities, vague statements, and inferences. Use "I" statements: I saw..., I heard..., I felt... Describe the impact of the behavior on you: "I felt...when you..." Be sincere with your comments. Don't say that something was good when you don't really believe it.

It's important to give a balanced mix of both positive feedback and feedback for improvement. Try to end with a positive comment. Be sure that the feedback recipient has understood your comments. Encourage a response.

Another important point. Consider timeliness. Don't "store up" feedback of either kind and dump it on a person. Feedback is much more effective if provided close to the time the behavior actually occurred.

There are two types of feedback -- Positive feedback and feedback for improvement.

Positive Feedback - Positive feedback is information about what someone did well. There's a very simple approach you can use when giving positive feedback.

- Describe what the person actually did or said, and

- Why this statement or action was effective.

Make sure your "What and Why" approach is based on specific, sincere information. For example: "Mary, when you presented the results of the team's customer satisfaction survey, your charts were very clear and easy to understand (what). They made it easy to identify which areas we need to work on to make our customers happier (why).."

Feedback for Improvement - Feedback for improvement is given about situations which did not go well, or which could have been better. In this case, it's important to tell the person specifically what could have been said or done differently, and why that would have been more effective.

The approach to giving feedback for improvement is:

- Describe what was said or done,

- Tell what would have been a better approach, and

- Why that would have been better

Make sure your "What, What and Why" approach is based on specific, sincere information. For example: "George, when you commented on Ted's report, I felt your remarks sounded sarcastic and not specific enough to be helpful (what). If you tell Ted exactly what additional information is necessary (what), he'll be able to incorporate the information you feel is needed when he revises the report (why).."

Receiving Feedback

There's also special skill required when receiving feedback. If you ask for feedback, be sure you are ready to receive it. Actively listen with your full attention. Ask for specific examples of what you did well and what could have been better. Ask questions to clarify, and paraphrase to check your understanding. Don't resist the feedback and avoid being defensive -- don't explain, rationalize or justify. Listen for the impact your behavior is having on the other person. Consider carefully whether, and how you want to change your behavior. Let others know immediately so they can support you. Ask for help and assistance, if appropriate. Most importantly, thank others when they provide you feedback. They have taken a risk to help you grow.

Remember: Feedback is a gift, a unique learning opportunity. Whether you agree or not, it has value because it represents a set of perceptions about you and your behavior.

Denise O'Berry (aka 'Team Doc') provides tools, tips and advice to help organizations build better teams. Find out more at http://www.teambuildingtips.com

move in cleaning service Wilmette ..

In The News:

Privacy risks are hiding in plain sight, as your personal data is likely being collected, tracked, and sold without your knowledge.

VenHub, a fully autonomous, AI-powered smart store just opened at the LAX/Metro Transit Center in Los Angeles.

A woman's Facebook account takeover reveals dangerous social engineering tactics and provides lessons on recovery, avoiding scams and enacting stronger security measures.

Shanghai engineers are using 432 walking robots to relocate a complex, preserving Shikumen architecture while creating space for a modern underground hub and cultural center.

Major healthcare data analytics firm Episource had a cybersecurity incident exposing 5 million patients' medical records and personal information in recent breach.

A new sophisticated PayPal scam sends legitimate-looking emails from official PayPal addresses, using phone numbers instead of links to convince victims to download remote access tools.

Fox News' AI Newsletter brings you the latest on this rapidly evolving technology.

The innovative Kara Pod device extracts moisture from air to create mineral-rich water and brew coffee, featuring UV sterilization and compatibility with Nespresso pods.

Gov. Hochul unveiled New York's nuclear power plant project to power a million homes, which faces permit challenges while promising jobs and a cleaner energy future.

SAFE introduces Aerie, an underground luxury bunker combining high-end living with advanced security, wellness amenities and interactive walls simulating panoramic views.

A Facebook scammer posing as Elon Musk tricked a victim with promises of a Tesla and $250,000, requesting gift cards that become untraceable once the codes are shared.

Experience hands-free golfing with the Robera Neo smart caddie that uses AI to follow you, navigate obstacles and carry your clubs with GPS course mapping.

Cybersecurity alert: 16 billion passwords exposed in massive credential database affecting major platforms. Protect your accounts with password managers

The innovative BeBot robot uses electric power to remove pollution from shorelines, covering 20-30 times more area than manual collection while preserving wildlife.

A new ClickFix campaign targets macOS users with fake Spectrum support sites, tricking victims with CAPTCHA failures to paste commands that install information-stealing malware.

AI-powered autonomous trucks from Plus Automation are being tested across the U.S., Europe and Asia to solve logistics challenges while facing regulatory hurdles and labor concerns.

Your health information might feel private and secure with your doctor, but the reality is far more complicated. Data brokers collect a wide range of sensitive health data, from diagnoses and prescription details to personal identifiers, and sell this data to marketers, insurers, and other third parties.

Kepler Robotics has officially introduced its Forerunner K2 "Bumblebee" humanoid robot at the SAIC-GM automotive plant in Shanghai, marking a significant moment in the real-world deployment of advanced robotics.

Scammers never seem to be running out of new ways to try and get their hands on your money – and lately, they've been getting sophisticated.

Thirty people were injured and killed, though the exact number remains currently unknown, when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a Damascus church.

Unexpected password reset alerts signal potential hacking attempts or phishing scams. Learn how to respond and establish stronger security measures for your accounts.

A historic electric airplane flight landed at JFK with passengers, marking a milestone as Beta Technologies demonstrates the practicality and efficiency of electric air travel.

The Chaos ransomware group breached Optima Tax Relief in a double-extortion attack, stealing sensitive customer case files and corporate documents with personal information.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

The first human brain-computer interface by Paradromics was completed in 20 minutes, featuring microelectrodes to help paralyzed individuals control computers with thoughts.

Team Member Feedback: A Priceless Communication Tool

Team Building