How to offer powerful feedback

One of the challenges of working in teams is that everyone gives and receives feedback differently. But offering feedback on the work you’re doing together is essential for keeping projects moving forward. We’ve compiled a few techniques for creating a safe space for giving constructive feedback that makes the work — and the team — stronger and more cohesive.
 

• Share the load. No one, not even a team leader, should be solely responsible for giving feedback on the project. The work you produce will be the result of group effort, so ask every team member to share their feedback, good and bad.
• Set expectations early. At the start of every project, have your team draft a set of guidelines for how you’ll work together and hold each other accountable. Post the guidelines on a Post-it® Super Sticky Dry Erase Surface or Post-it® Super Sticky Easel Pad so everyone can see them. Getting these rules down ensures all team members are working from the same set of expectations when it comes to giving feedback.
• Get it down. Write feedback on Post-it® Super Sticky Notes to even the playing field between departments and management tiers. Using notes ensures everyone’s feedback is at the same level and in the same format.
• Be specific. Good feedback is focused and specific to the task or project. To make sure your feedback is as specific as possible, try writing it down. Writing feedback down requires you to be clear and direct with your thoughts. And writing on notes means your feedback will not only be specific, but also concise.
• Make it regular. Make feedback a regular part of how your team works. The more often feedback on the project is shared, the more comfortable your team will feel giving and receiving it.
• Offer prompts. Giving feedback doesn’t come easily to everyone. Provide team members with a few general prompts to get them used to giving and receiving feedback. For example, have team members rate the team’s performance on a scale of 1 to 5, or ask them to name one success and one area for improvement each week.

Giving and receiving feedback is key to continuously improving your team’s work process. By making feedback specific, direct and regular, you’ll be ensuring your team’s success for many projects to come.