6 Interesting Ways To Encourage Your Employees To Share Feedback

A great employer understands that running a company means giving your employees a platform to speak up. You will only get to know about the flaws in management from those who are a part of it. Most employees can see things that managers overlook, and they can give invaluable feedback which will improve not just their performance but also the way a company runs. Most often employees feel hesitant to speak up and keep their opinions to themselves. Getting your employees to give an honest and open feedback is easier said than done. 

Giving and receiving feedback requires a lot of honesty, trust, and openness. Here are some ways that can make this process easier:

#1. Open-door policy

Just having an open door policy is not sufficient enough, what matters is how to open the door to be exact. If you take any criticism from your employees defensively than despite encouraging them to be open with you, they will hold back honest reviews. First, you need to accept that no one can be perfect and only when you acknowledge your flaws and, the errors that are occurring in managing the company can you rectify them. Once you see its benefits, you would have an open-door policy where employee feedbacks would be given due consideration.

                                                                                         (Image Courtesy: Bridge Between)

#2. Organize luncheons

The corporate environment does not encourage much mingling with the staff, and therefore employers should find appropriate ways to do it. The best way is to bring food to the table, everyone loves to eat, and they also love to talk over meals. Organize BBQs, lunch or catered parties where you can mingle with your employees and get them to talk without much reservation. This can help you to understand your employees better and know them personally. Dress down for such an occasion and make an effort to get to know them, it will be fruitful later.

                                                                                     (Image Courtesy: waiter.com)

#3. Ask for regular feedback

Often enough employees get too engrossed in their work, and even the problems they face are only discussed among themselves. In such cases, you must be proactive, and instead of waiting for them to make an appointment, you should knock on their door and get them involved. Ask them to make a useful suggestion about work and management and the feedback which is most useful should be awarded. Something like a free lunch would also be quite enough to make employees share their valuable opinion.

                                                                                  (Image Courtesy: Scottheustis)

#4. Make it anonymous

Often employees’ fear to talk about things they feel are not going right in the organization and the flaws that are occurring. Being anonymous gives them more confidence to speak out openly about the problems in the company. So, create a platform where employees can discreetly share their problems and then actually implement the required changes that you feel are necessary. You can also refer to Anonymous Feedback Program, seeing that their feedback is taken into consideration would encourage your employees to be more open.

                                                                                 (Image Courtesy: North West district)

#5. Ask questions

You are the one who is in the position of power and hence, the responsibility to ask your employees about their needs also falls upon you. Don’t badger them but do ask relevant questions constantly. Get to know about their needs and understand their requirements. An employee can give his 100% only if the company gives him a conducive environment to function properly. There are various questions that you can ask your employees such as:

• Do you see yourself grow with the organization?

• What is the most important attribute you bring to the company?

• Is the environment conducive enough for you to give your best?

• Are your feedbacks taken by the supervisor and are they valued?

• What makes you stick with this company?

                                                                                  (Image Courtesy: Torben Rick)

 #6. Learn to read between the lines

Often enough employees would not be too open verbally, but they would exude improper personality by their body language. When you ask for feedback, you can know a lot by watching the stance, facial expression, and gestures of your employees. If they look sulky, tensed or cross their arms then perhaps they are not too happy with the situation, and it would be a good idea for a one on one to know the root of the problem.

(Image Courtesy: The Irish Times)

Are you are an employee who feels there should be more ways to get your feedback across or an employer who wants to understand their employees better. Do share your opinions on the changes that you feel can create a better working environment using the comment box below. We look forward to your feedback