How to Build a Culture of Feedback That Actually Works

Six Science-Backed Principles for Embedding Feedback in Your Organization

Yaroslav Danylchenko/ Stocksy

If you want to put a colleague on edge, tell them they will receive some feedback. Or, even worse, tell them they have to give feedback.

Feedback is like a visit to the dentist – necessary, but often uncomfortable and avoided. It triggers a type of performance anxiety that manifests both physically and emotionally. A study showed that impromptu feedback situations cause a significant increase in heart rates, leading to feelings of anxiety and stress.

But here's the twist – despite all the discomfort it induces, there's a feedback deficit in the workplace. Research shows that 87% of employees want to be developed in their jobs, but only a third receive the feedback they need.

Bridging this gap requires moving past performance reviews and occasional, individual coaching. Cultivating a culture where feedback is not only welcome but requested demands a seismic shift in the organizational approach. You must transform the system.

Let's explore the six key principles…