Feedback is tricky but essential for a workplace to function effectively. Organisations across the globe are keen to build inclusive feedback structures and culture for effective workplace communication and collaboration. However, it is important to understand the sub-steps of building an effective feedback culture at work and beyond.

To get started on this process, the key is not to focus on feedback itself. Rather, to get started with building trust and setting clear expectations.

Trust + Clear Expectations = Feedback Happens Organically

Why is Trust so important?

While the focus is on building a feedback culture- but a shift to trust is required. Trust is the ultimate leadership skill. It is the key to leadership and business success.

Trust can resolve feedback challenges effectively and effectively. While our focus stays on ‘People do not know how to give the feedback correctly’.  Instead, it needs to focus on solving challenges like:

#1 People do not know how to keep the power dynamics in consideration while giving feedback.

#2 People do not know how to give feedback without hurting others.

#3 People do not know how to express expectations while giving feedback.

#4 People do not know how to create a balance between criticism and feedback.

With the absence of trust and clear communication of expectations, the focus shifts over the feedback structure and specific words. It prevents the listener from understanding the intent of the feedback but shifts focus to the structure of the feedback.

Building Trust

Trust is a long-term investment, of which an effective feedback culture is a byproduct. Trust signals that you care and feedback is for the other person’s benefit. To build trust, Natalie Doyle Oldfield author of ‘Trusted: The Proven Path to Customer Loyalty and Business Growth’, has shared certain strategies that can be gamechanger for trust building:

#1 Trust is subconscious, it comes from the gut and can be handy tool whenever a team or a workplace challenge comes. For leaders or managers, it is a step-by-step process.

#2 It operates like a bank deposit, where certain investments of honesty and reliability come in handy. It builds a reserve for whenever a challenge arises.

#3 Trust is based on 3 pillars: Communicate transparently, behave with integrity, and genuinely serve the stakeholders.

#4 Consistency plays an important role in trust-building, alignment of words and actions can fuel trust, fostering better relationships.

#5 Patient and non-judgmental listening can build the base for better relationships and build a better understanding of the teams to lead them better.

#6 Transparency fuels trust. The more you share, the more your team shares: strengths, ideas, shortcomings and failures. It enables the leaders to lead better and learn better.

Power skills like communication and leadership are based on the certain behaviou changes that benefit the whole workplace.