Tips on Collaboration Feedback

Helpful tips to give and receive collaboration feedback.

How to provide useful collaboration feedback

Giving and receiving feedback in the workplace can be difficult. However, learning how to provide useful, actionable feedback can help make the process easier and can be very valuable.

When providing feedback you want to ensure the amount of time you spend writing the feedback and the time your colleague spends reading and engaging with the feedback has the maximum return for the effort.

The following tips will help you provide useful collaboration feedback in Workplace Dynamics:

Think about it from their perspective

When giving feedback to colleagues in your weekly survey, consider how you would use the feedback you are giving if you were the one receiving it. If you’re not sure, consider rephrasing the feedback to make it more actionable.

Be as specific as possible

Feedback such as “You are doing a great job,” while kind, is not helpful. What are they specifically doing well? Instead, try providing specific feedback such as, “I really like how efficient your meetings are. You always make sure we have an agenda in advance, giving us time to prepare.”

Be future focused

Focus on what your colleague could be doing better rather than what they are doing wrong. “Colleague A is always late for meetings” would become “Colleague A should ensure that they are on time for meetings.” Though it seems like a minor edit, this minor edit can make the feedback more impactful.

How to receive collaboration feedback

Receiving feedback from a colleague can be a challenging part of work, especially when the feedback is negative. The following tips will help you engage with the feedback you receive in a productive way:

Actively listen to the written comment

Read the feedback several times without allowing emotions to cloud your understanding. Try to understand what your colleague has highlighted as your strengths and what they recommend you improve or develop to be more successful in your role.

Always use feedback as an opportunity to grow and develop your skills

Everyone makes mistakes, however mistakes help us learn how to do things differently. Whether the feedback you receive is positive or negative, always see it as an opportunity for your future growth. If the feedback is unflattering, use it as a chance to learn from your mistakes and grow from your new learnings. If the feedback is positive, build upon what you're doing right!

If you receive feedback without any comments for improvement but it makes you feel demotivated, it's important to remember that not all people are skilled at providing constructive feedback. Giving feedback is a skill that needs to be learned.

Reflect and process

Take the time to reflect on the feedback you received and focus on ways you can take ownership for your actions. It can be helpful to create a list of skills that you want to improve based off of the feedback provided. By creating a course of action it will help you work towards your end goal and achieve future success.

Look for trends

When reflecting on the feedback provided, it’s important to look for trends. A single negative comment or rating is something to reflect on, however it is only one comment. Focusing on feedback that is consistent will help you identify what to prioritize. For example if you have several comments or ratings that indicate you are struggling to be an effective communicator, this is a better use of your time then giving each individual comment that same weight.