When was the last time you received a compliment from your colleague? Or do you recognize the feeling of getting a sincere pat on the back for that presentation you have to give? Small examples of a feedback culture, a positive team spirit that leads to good collaboration as the key to success. To work well together, feedback is essential. From top to bottom, peer-to-peer, and bottom-up!
If the opportunity to give feedback is missing, “noise” often arises: unspoken expectations, growing frustrations, uncertainties… It is also a missed opportunity to reward employees and work together on a healthy and pleasant work environment. Feedback is therefore the foundation of personal leadership and growth, for both the giver and the receiver.
According to the McKinsey Global Institute, employees who feel engaged with their employer are 20-25% more effective in the workplace.
In this article, we will delve a little deeper into creating a positive feedback culture and explain our new campaign. Dewelivered free with our snack boxes.
What exactly is a feedback culture?
A feedback culture is the culture that exists in the workplace focused on giving and receiving sincere feedback between employees. From top to bottom, peer-to-peer, and bottom-up on a regular basis.
Building a feedback culture is essential for developing a healthy company in the long term:
- It increases employee engagement
- It creates a positive work spirit
- It improves internal communication
- It leads to better performance on the work floor
Tips for introducing a feedback culture
Introduce feedback already during the selection process
The selection process is an important moment to gauge the employee’s view on feedback and personal development. People with a growth mindset take feedback much more easily, even (and perhaps especially) when it concerns areas for improvement.
Ask how the candidate deals with setbacks, with the fact that one of the colleagues might possibly do something wrong or right...
Explain that feedback is an important aspect within the organization and how you implement this.
Let managers set a good example
Introducing a feedback culture starts with senior management. With the people who have a role model function within the organization. Make sure they create support within the organization. They do this by starting to give feedback, but also by being open to receiving it.
This gives other employees the confidence to get started.
Routine is important
A culture is only created when something happens regularly. So as an employer and manager, ensure regular feedback moments. This can be done by evaluating projects midway or after completion. Scheduling weekly one-on-one meetings. Planning feedback meetings to strengthen each other and the team, but especially by encouraging everyone to reward positive work with compliments.
By giving regular and sincere feedback, employees are motivated to improve themselves.
Get to know each other
Make sure the team really gets to know each other! This will create a bond of trust that allows feedback to be given more easily. Celebrate birthdays, go on team-building activities...
Introduce internal training
Call on experts who provide training on giving and receiving feedback. These trainings are often ideal for finding ambassadors who can initiate the feedback culture.
Write a charter about the feedback culture
Document why you find feedback so important as an employer, what the benefits are, and how employees can get started. This last part is especially important because many people do not immediately know how to give good feedback.
Rules and agreements about giving feedback help encourage employees to give it.
Start!
There is only one way to create a feedback culture, and that is by starting to do it! Good luck!
Feedback campaign
At JustBite, our mission is to make people feel fitter and more productive throughout the day! We strongly believe that giving feedback is an important part of this. For that reason, we have developed feedback cards that can be found with the snack boxes. The cards are meant to positively encourage and recognize each other. It is a way to break down hierarchical barriers and encourage everyone to give immediate positive feedback.
How do the feedback cards work?
- Choose your card and write a personal message for the recipient
- Thumbs up!
- Good job!
- Take a break!
- Let’s workout!
- ...
- Hang the card around a healthy snack
- The recipient’s favorite snack?
- An energy ball to get through the upcoming meeting?
- A protein-rich snack for after the workout?
- …
- Deliver it to the recipient
With these cards, we want to give our customers a little push regarding introducing a positive feedback culture and creating an even nicer workplace.
Start today! Good luck!