A workplace culture where people are open to exchanging feedback with their peers and managers significantly affects how a team or organization operates. Without feedback, people are walking blind—wandering aimlessly through the dark. Some may eventually reach the goal, but there are others who may end up continuing to mill around without ever making it to their destination.
Though giving and receiving feedback is daunting and perhaps demotivating for some people, it’s also necessary to foster intrinsically motivated and high-performing employees. Here’s why.
Reinforces Employee Engagement
Highly engaged employees and positive workplace culture are paramount to establishing company success. In fact, a 2017 report by Gallup found that the top-performing organizations are those with employee engagement as one of their core strategies. This means a culture of engagement is no longer an option—it is a requirement that drives the business forward.
Cultivating this culture of engagement takes more than just sending out annual surveys or quarterly evaluations. It’s a continuous process that involves presenting clear goals and objectives, imposing collaboration between team members, mentoring, and exchanging feedback in a timely manner.
Encouraging people to voice out their thoughts reinforces that the organization respects their opinions and acknowledges how significant their role is in the company. When everyone can freely give and receive feedback and concerns, conflict between the employees and the management is less likely to happen. Even better, it will encourage everyone to work with vigor knowing their opinions matter in the company.
Boosts Intrinsic Motivation
Pay increases, benefits, and bonuses serve as an excellent motivator for the workforce. These external rewards, however, cannot always ensure employees’ happiness and satisfaction. There are a variety of motivational factors that don’t have to be tangible and monetary, one of which is providing constructive feedback.
Positive criticism is an excellent morale- and confidence-booster. It helps people recognize and hone their strengths as well as sustain their commitment towards work. However, feedback isn’t always positive. It may not always be “Great job!” or “Well done!”. So, how can feedback be motivating if it’s mostly negative?
Constructive or negative feedback isn’t essentially negative. It tells people which areas they need to spend more effort on and offers insights crucial for their improvement, both of which are important for a successful performance management program. If delivered and received appropriately, it can be a valuable tool to help themselves to the top of their game.
Fuels Growth
In a survey conducted by Harvard Business Review, it is found that 57% of people preferred receiving corrective feedback to praise and congratulatory comments; and 72% felt their performance would improve if their managers provided constructive criticism.
As the data affirmed, corrective feedback is something most people believe is crucial for their career growth. They understand the need to reflect on their own progress—how they’re doing, what’s working, and what’s not—to focus and improve on the areas they’re lacking in.
Criticism, when delivered in a timely, constructive, and effective manner, can provoke a change that will benefit not only themselves but also the whole team. It enables them to become a more effective worker, better colleague, and continuously growing individual.
Provides a Sense of Purpose and Meaning
As humans, we all want to feel like we belong and are appreciated. This certainly also applies in a work context, in which workers want to feel that there’s a value in what they do and what they bring to the organization. They want to feel that they’re a part of a team working towards the same goals or objectives.
This knowledge that employees are valued and feel valued gives them a sense of purpose and meaning. It gets them to show up every day at work and deliver their best efforts.
Giving regular evaluation is one way to show acknowledgement of their work. It makes them feel like they’re an integral member of the organization, not just mere employees who bring money to the table. Any feedback will strengthen their belief that there is a point to what they’re doing.
Feedback, both positive and negative, are what makes top performing businesses, individuals, and entrepreneurs top performing. Their willingness to exchange feedback is fostered by their continuous search for ways to make their “good” better and their “better” best. So, don’t be afraid to ask and receive criticism. It’ll surely help you in a million more ways than one.
Omni Channel Solutions cultivates a feedback-rich culture not only among our clients but also with our employees. We value every feedback and suggestion so we can produce only the best possible outcomes for our clients. And that’s what makes Omni Channel Solutions different. We don’t just simply do business. We continuously strive to create a fun and positive environment for all the members of our workforce. Through that, our teams are motivated to consistently deliver excellent work they can be proud of.
Unparalleled work, authentic outcomes, and results-driven professionals. This is what Omni Channel Solutions is made of. Reach out to us today.
