{"id":12194,"date":"2016-06-20T11:12:57","date_gmt":"2016-06-20T08:12:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mozaicworks.com\/?p=9481"},"modified":"2022-02-01T18:12:08","modified_gmt":"2022-02-01T16:12:08","slug":"feedback-happy-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mozaicworks.com\/blog\/feedback-happy-team","title":{"rendered":"Feedback and happy teams"},"content":{"rendered":"

Throughout my software-development years, giving and receiving feedback has proven to be an important tool. It helped me drive the projects forward and improved my skills as a developer. In this article, you can find out why it’s important to give feedback to your colleagues, and, more importantly, what are the proper means to provide such feedback.<\/p>\n

What is feedback?<\/h4>\n

The term comes from control systems engineering, a discipline that uses sensors to measure the output performance of the device being controlled. Such measurements can be used to give feedback to the input actuators that can make corrections toward desired performance. [1]<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A
A feedback loop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In simpler terms, the outputs of a process are being fed back<\/strong> as inputs to that process.<\/p>\n

In an organizational context, feedback is the information sent to an individual or a group about their prior behavior so that they may adjust their current and future behavior to achieve the desired result. 2<\/a><\/p>\n

Why give feedback?<\/h4>\n

Receiving feedback from a mentor, a manager or a colleague represents a huge opportunity for potential learning.<\/p>\n

Everyone needs constant feedback. Looking at young professionals, as many times they have doubts regarding their steps along the way, an annual performance review may be too little, too late.<\/p>\n

Any software developer can tell you as much: the shorter the feedback loop, the better.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Feedback
Feedback loops<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Let’s take a concrete example: when engaged in a conversation, people need to know that they have been understood. In terms of active listening, you can give feedback in order to prove that you understand what the other is communicating.\u00a0Use acknowledgement cues such as “I had the exact same problem”<\/strong> or “I understand how you are feeling.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whenever you see a positive outcome of a behaviour that you’d like to encourage, you should show appreciation by saying things such as “I like your idea” or “You did a good job.” Words like these act as a self-confidence boost mechanism for the one receiving the feedback. They set the stage for repeating the actions that lead to your appraisals.<\/p>\n

To the receiver it may not always be clear why the good deed is being lauded. That is why, if appropriate, you need to include an emphasis on the positive effects this behaviour had on you or other team members: “Your action enabled me to …”<\/p>\n

Key characteristics of feedback<\/h4>\n

There are specific formats to give feedback in a structured way. No matter the format,\u00a0for it to be effective, you should keep in mind the following characteristics:<\/p>\n