Information is a valuable resource in any aspect of a business. Many companies already have a particular methodology in place to get feedback from their customers. However, customers aren’t the only place to gather important information about your operations. Employees are also a significant source of feedback, one that can go untapped.
To develop this resource, businesses should start leveraging their employees’ experiences. Encouraging employee input as part of company culture is a great start toward achieving this goal. Below, five members of Young Entrepreneur Council offer insight into how businesses can encourage this change to their company culture to help employees feel more comfortable about providing feedback.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
1. Create A Culture Of Openness
We make sure every new hire knows that feedback and new ideas are welcome. Whenever we hold team meetings, we are always open to feedback. Since some employees may not be comfortable providing that in a group setting, or they may be new, management always asks in individual meetings as well. A simple question goes a long way in setting the tone. This creates a culture of openness. – Angela Delmedico, Elev8 Consulting Group
2. Encourage And Foster Regular Communication
We make feedback a core part of day-to-day interaction. First, all team members are encouraged to pull a team member aside in the moment to give direct feedback in a constructive way. Second, we encourage weekly two-way, one-on-one talks between managers and their direct reports, as well as between management peers. Lastly, founders have quarterly one-on-one meetings with all team members at all levels. – Jordan Gurrieri, Blue Label Labs
3. Have An Open-Door Policy
People will feel more comfortable in a company that encourages an open-door policy. The policy itself expresses union and equality, and it connects people. Most companies promote authority through hierarchy, but modern companies need to find ways to promote equality and personal connections between all team members regardless of position. Communication between all is needed and it creates culture. – Jose Magana, Yellowberry Hub
4. Be Open To Constructive Criticism
The best way for a company to incorporate feedback into the company culture is by letting the whole team know that leaders are open to, and invite, constructive criticism. Even if team members don’t act on this invitation regularly, it signals that everyone is there to grow and learn—even people at the top of the pyramid. We are all fallible human beings and are there to make each other better. – Emily Nhaissi, Craft & Root
5. Use Suggestion Boxes And Emails
Having worked from the bottom at a few companies, I remember seeing how the implementation of ideas coming down from the top did not always align in the way it was intended. The way we look at feedback is like the right and left hand working together. Having suggestion boxes and emails encourages transparency, efficiency and successful growth with minimal costs. – Jessica Baker, Aligned Signs
