How to Get Feedback From Employees

You've probably noticed how hard companies work to get customer feedback. It's because it works! But here's a thought: why not apply the same idea to your employees?

Let's face it: Many employers are stuck on a one-way street when it comes to feedback. They're all about telling employees what they're doing right or wrong. As a manager, you should actively seek input from employees by asking, "What could we be doing better?"

This article will explore the what, why, and how of employee feedback so you can start leveraging this powerful resource.

Why is employee feedback important?

For sceptical managers unconvinced of its value, employee feedback has been proven to directly impact employee engagement, retention, and overall organisational success. In fact, 13.1% of employers never ask for employee feedback. But those who do reap the rewards, including:

Enhancing workplace culture and morale

Workplace culture encompasses the values, beliefs, and attitudes that shape an organisation's behaviour. Morale indicates the overall energy and mood within that culture. Together, they create the day-to-day experience for your employees.

So, how does employee feedback fit into this? Well, when employees feel heard and appreciated, both aspects are boosted. Even small changes can make a big difference.

Imagine your employees mention that the vending machines lack healthy options. By acting on this feedback and stocking up on some nutritious snacks, you show that you listen and care. It's a simple change, but it can boost morale every time workers go for a snack.

Identifying areas for improvement and growth

No company is perfect, no matter how impressive their sales figures or how many awards they've won. There's always room for improvement, especially regarding internal processes and employee experience.

When you're focused on the big picture and keeping customers happy, it's easy to overlook the people who make it all happen—your employees. That's where employee feedback comes in handy. It can illuminate areas needing a bit of TLC or highlight growth opportunities you might have missed.

For example, let's say several employees mention feeling overwhelmed by their workload. This feedback—perhaps captured via a staff wellbeing survey—could lead to the implementation of a new project management system or hiring additional staff. Or maybe employees express interest in learning new skills. That could spark the creation of a mentorship program or professional development opportunities.

Boosting employee engagement and productivity

Studies show engaged employees are up to 20% more productive than their disengaged colleagues. That's a fairly good reason to care about engagement if we've ever heard one.

Employee engagement is about how much commitment and passion your employees have toward their work. Feedback plays a big role in this. When asked for input, employees feel a greater sense of ownership in operations, which empowers them to put forth extra effort into their roles.

Supporting retention and reducing turnover

Replacing an employee is expensive. Very expensive. Some estimates put the cost at up to twice the employee's annual salary.

If you find yourself constantly losing good employees, it might be time to take a closer look at your company culture and work environment. Employee feedback can help you identify what's causing people to jump ship. But most importantly, it shows you listen.

One study found that 41% of employees have left a job because they felt they weren't listened to. Simply listening to feedback - even without agreeing or taking action - alleviates the #1 reason for turnover. Employees stay at companies that make them feel their voice matters.

How to get honest feedback

Now, here's the tricky part. It's not enough to just ask for feedback. Many people, when asked directly, won't give their honest opinions. They might fear getting in trouble or don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. You need to avoid the risk of survey bias if you want the unadulterated truth.

Start by setting an example. You are most likely already giving feedback to your employees, hopefully in a respectful manner. All you have to do now is be open to receiving and acting on feedback yourself. However, the most important thing you can do is create a safe and supportive environment.

That means encouraging open communication and transparency. Make it clear that honest feedback is valued and won't result in negative consequences. Most employees take advantage of feedback programs, but one in five remain silent. Of those quiet ones, 30.7% said they didn't have any feedback to share, and 21% felt their feedback wasn't significant enough to share.

That last bit is concerning. It means too many employees don't think their opinions matter or will make a difference. This can lead to a "why bother?" attitude, which is the last thing you want. To combat this, don't just ask for feedback - act on it!

Building trust through consistent and fair management practices

A big part of getting honest feedback comes down to your managers. They need to be trained to handle input effectively. Active listening, showing empathy, and taking appropriate action based on what they hear are all parts of the puzzle.

It's also crucial to follow up. If an employee shares feedback, let them know what's being done about it.

How to get anonymous feedback

Even if you create the most welcoming environment, some people still feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts anonymously. And that's okay! Anonymous feedback can be beneficial. It lets people share honest opinions without worrying about potential fallout or judgment.

There are many ways to gather feedback anonymously. You could use HR survey tools like SmartSurvey or set up old-school suggestion boxes. Using a third-party service keeps things genuinely anonymous.

Remember, even if the feedback is anonymous, taking action on the results is still necessary. You don't need to say who said what, but you should let everyone know about the changes you're making based on the feedback.

Anonymous feedback is especially useful for the bigger issues, which people are often most afraid to speak up about. For example, an employee might not feel comfortable directly reporting unfair treatment but might share it anonymously.

Leveraging technology for effective feedback

As most business operations go digital, employee feedback is following suit. There are plenty of feedback-gathering tools out there that make the process easier. SmartSurvey is one of your options, offering online survey software for companies of all sizes, from SMEs to enterprise users. Take a look at the many employee feedback templates we have created.

Using technology to gather and analyse feedback has some enormous benefits. It can save time, make it easier to spot trends, and even help you make better decisions based on data. When choosing feedback software for your organisation, look for something that's easy to use, provides good analytics, and fits your company's needs and culture.

Best practices for acting on feedback

Gathering feedback is excellent, but it's what you do with it that really counts. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Create action plans based on feedback: Don't just file away the feedback you receive. Make concrete plans to address the issues raised
• Communicate changes and improvements: Let your employees know what you're doing in response to their feedback
• Monitor progress and ask for follow-up feedback: Keep track of how your changes are working. Ask for more feedback to make sure you're on the right track
• Recognise and reward employees for their input: Thank people for their feedback and consider rewarding constructive suggestions; doing so encourages more participation in the future

Wrapping up

Employee feedback provides a valuable workforce thermometer, highlighting areas for improvement undetected by management. Prioritising this input enhances culture, productivity, and retention.

Through open communication channels, consistently acting on feedback, and showing employees their voices matter, organisations position themselves for success powered by their people. The insights uncovered may surprise you.

So, why not start today? Use SmartSurvey to ask your employees what they think. Listen to their answers. And most importantly, take action.

Key takeaways

Importance of employee feedback: Employee feedback is essential for improving workplace culture, morale, and overall organisational success. It differs from developmental feedback as it focuses on gathering employees' opinions and suggestions rather than evaluating their performance.

Methods of gathering feedback: Feedback can be collected through various methods, including performance reviews, digital suggestion boxes, informal check-ins, and employee pulse surveys, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of employee sentiment.

Impact on engagement and retention: Soliciting feedback from employees enhances their engagement, productivity, and retention. Engaged employees are more committed to their work, and listening to their feedback can significantly reduce turnover rates.

Addressing employee concerns: Feedback helps identify areas for improvement and growth within an organisation. By addressing concerns raised by employees, companies can enhance internal processes and create better working conditions.

Creating a safe environment for honest feedback: Establishing a supportive and transparent environment is crucial for obtaining honest feedback. Employees must feel that their input is valued and that there will be no negative consequences for sharing their opinions.

Anonymous feedback options: Offering anonymous feedback channels, such as surveys or suggestion boxes, can encourage more candid responses, especially on sensitive issues that employees might hesitate to discuss openly.

Leveraging technology for feedback: Utilising digital tools for gathering and analysing employee feedback can streamline the process, making it easier to spot trends and make data-driven decisions that benefit the organisation.

Acting on feedback: It's not enough to just gather feedback; companies must also act on it. Creating action plans, communicating changes, and rewarding employees for their input are vital steps to ensure that feedback leads to positive outcomes.

Bonus: Having looked at how to get feedback, you might also like our blog on giving employee feedback.