How do you know if your feedback is helping your employees?
Feedback is a crucial part of managing and developing your employees. But how do you know if your feedback is actually helping them improve their performance and achieve their goals? In this article, you will learn how to measure the impact of your feedback and how to adjust your approach based on the results.
The first step to knowing if your feedback is helping your employees is to clarify the purpose of your feedback. Feedback should be aligned with the objectives and expectations of the employee's role, as well as the values and vision of the organization. Feedback should also be specific, timely, and actionable, so that the employee knows what they did well, what they need to work on, and how to do it.
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Ask them! Ask them if your feedback is helpful. Apart from your feedback, ask them what else would help them. They can seek feedback from other people like coworkers, customers, vendors, and other partners. Ask them these questions, too: What else do you need from me? What would help you the most? How can I support you? Do you feel like you understand this process, or would you like to review it? What kind of feedback do you want for me, and how often?
The second step to knowing if your feedback is helping your employees is to create a feedback loop. A feedback loop is a process of giving and receiving feedback, as well as monitoring and evaluating the outcomes. A feedback loop should involve regular check-ins, follow-ups, and reviews, where you and your employee can discuss the progress, challenges, and results of the feedback. A feedback loop should also be open and collaborative, where you and your employee can share ideas, suggestions, and feedback on each other.
The third step to knowing if your feedback is helping your employees is to identify and track the feedback indicators. Feedback indicators are the measurable and observable signs that show the impact of your feedback on the employee's performance and behavior. Feedback indicators can include quantitative data, such as sales figures, productivity metrics, or customer satisfaction ratings, or qualitative data, such as feedback from peers, customers, or managers, or self-assessments by the employee. Feedback indicators should be relevant, realistic, and consistent with the feedback goals.
The fourth step to knowing if your feedback is helping your employees is to analyze the feedback indicators. Feedback analysis is the process of comparing the feedback indicators with the feedback goals and expectations, and identifying the gaps, strengths, and areas for improvement. Feedback analysis should be objective, honest, and constructive, and should highlight the achievements, challenges, and opportunities of the employee. Feedback analysis should also be collaborative, and should involve the employee's input and perspective.
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Dude, this process is way too detailed and linear. We are talking about people here, not machine parts. It doesn’t need to be this complicated. How people feel about you, their relationship with you and the feedback you give them is typically more important and more impactful than the actual words you say.
The fifth step to knowing if your feedback is helping your employees is to adjust your feedback based on the feedback analysis. Feedback adjustment is the process of modifying your feedback approach and strategy, and setting new or revised feedback goals and expectations for the employee. Feedback adjustment should be flexible, responsive, and supportive, and should take into account the employee's needs, preferences, and learning style. Feedback adjustment should also be communicated clearly, respectfully, and positively to the employee.
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This is not how business gets done or how employees get excited about goals and accomplish them. Adding all these steps does not make a process better. Just tell the truth! Your employees will thank you for it.
The sixth and final step to knowing if your feedback is helping your employees is to evaluate your feedback effectiveness. Feedback evaluation is the process of assessing the overall impact and value of your feedback on the employee's performance and development. Feedback evaluation should be based on the feedback indicators, analysis, and adjustment, and should measure the outcomes, benefits, and challenges of your feedback. Feedback evaluation should also be reflective, and should help you identify your own strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement as a feedback giver.
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Is your feedback effective? Let’s see. Did you get the results you were after? You did? That’s tremendous! How will you celebrate? How will you acknowledge the employee who made such a great improvement? Hats off to them, and to you!
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