The Power of Positive Feedback

‘We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve’ – Bill Gates

What is feedback? To me, feedback is a signal or message which is transmitted and received consciously or sub-consciously, all the time. Be it explicitly verbal or subtly conveyed through non-verbal reactions, a feedback is a very powerful tool, irrespective of whether it is accepted, ignored or missed. Customers give feedback, as do our suppliers, co-workers, employees, bosses, partners, team-mates, trainers, coaches etc. Acting on a customer feedback can lead to course correction and more business; missing the customer’s feedback can lead to business slipping away without us realizing it.  The same holds true internally within organisations -  it could result in creation or loss of trust and commitment.

The need for approval and appreciation is a basic human need

Who does not like to be praised, especially for one’s accomplishments? At home or at work, whether one is a child or an adult, being appreciated makes one feel enthusiastic and upbeat, eager to do more. That employees who are recognized and praised are more engaged, motivated and not likely to quit is a well-known fact. And it is not just the exceptional employees or achievers who need to be appreciated; appreciating and recognising all good work is the way to enhanced motivation and productivity. This does not imply that positive feedback has to be necessarily about singing praises. It simply means laying the foundation for engagement on acknowledgement and appreciation of the employee’s strengths, skills and efforts.

Most organisations rely on legacy structured feedback processes as an HR tool

Feedback is often used to help individuals/organisations improve, grow and develop, or to draw attention to areas where one may be lacking. No matter how constructive the feedback, when the focus is on what can or needs to be improved, the resultant effect may not be exactly what is desired. Moreover, the basic flaw in the design of a periodic feedback process may lead to predictable outcomes, leading to vital clues getting missed. Particularly when it comes to employee engagement - giving feedback and receiving feedback even becomes a science, with data and numbers driving the entire exercise.

Positive feedback, on the other hand, is a powerful tool that highlights, recognizes and appreciates, and values the contribution

Positive feedback is about encouraging, being optimistic and upbeat, focusing on the strengths and affirming the pluses. Positive feedback doesn't just motivate people to continue working with renewed enthusiasm, but also to be more creative and innovative, especially when accompanied by affirmations of their invaluable contributions. One of the key tenets of psychology is that positive reinforcement increases the probability of that behavior being repeated. And therein lays the power of positive feedback.

 A few important aspects of positive feedback:

* Do it now. A timely word of praise or appreciation boosts the spirit and helps improve and strengthen relationships at work. The right time and right place makes all the difference. Delaying positive words of encouragement negates the whole

* Be specific and make it public. Have a reason. Specific positive feedback shows that the good work has been noticed and appreciated. One of the best idioms to apply while dealing with poor performance or lapse is “praise in public, berate in private”. It is important to make an employee feel respected among his peers and team members

* Do it frequently and consistently. Be regular in giving feedback. There can never be too much of encouraging and affirmative words

* Be sincere and focused

* What you say matters as much as how you say it. The delivery, the body language, and the expressions count as much as the content. Positive feedback delivered perfunctorily often has a different impact from the one sought-for  

Negative feedback often leads to depression, stress and an indifferent attitude at work. While mistakes do need to be corrected, highlighting mistakes without recognizing good work will lead to a demoralized work place. Positive feedback creates a cycle of enthusiasm and enhanced productivity, spreads positive vibes, increase motivation and engagement. So, go ahead and create an environment conducive to positive feedback. Unleash the power and see the difference.