Three Types of Employee Feedback and Their Impact on Employee Engagement

Employee feedback is a critical factor for business success. It entails collecting and evaluating employee thoughts on their experiences and understanding of the workplace. Organizations that take the time to seek out and listen to employee feedback benefit greatly. It’s so important but often forgotten. Teams should make it a deliberate part of their day-to-day operations as it does not only foster professional development and improve communication, it can actually boost engagement levels and keep workplace culture thriving.

Feedback can come from many sources, including managers, peers, customers, and measurement systems. Regardless of the source, feedback needs to be specific and actionable to be effective. When done well, feedback not only helps employees improve their work, but it also helps managers gauge employee engagement and productivity.

If you are looking for ways to engage your employees and boost productivity, feedback is a great place to start. Keep reading to learn more!

Why Employee Feedback Matters

So, get this. According to a Zippia research, 89% of HR leaders think that having ongoing peer feedback and check-ins is crucial for success. Here’s the kicker – employees also crave recognition that’s based on their values with 75% of employees finding feedback to be incredibly valuable; it reminds them that their work is meaningful and has purpose.

Feedback is like gold in the workplace – everyone wants it, and it can make a real difference – 69% of employees are saying that they’d be willing to kick things up a notch if they got some feedback that recognized their hard work. In short, recognition matters! 

Three Types of Employee Feedback

1. Positive Employee Feedback

Recognizing Hard Work

Here’s a top-notch feedback tip: An employee engagement stat found that 92% of employees are more likely to keep doing good work when they receive recognition for it. So, use positive feedback as a coaching tool! 

Acknowledging Strong Skill Sets

Acknowledging an employee’s skill set shows you value their skills beyond a generic “good job.” To boost morale and open new opportunities, give specific positive feedback, such as highlighting their strong communication skills.

Recognizing Non-Workplace Achievements

Your employees are more than just what they can do for the company. Recognizing their personal successes outside of work shows that you care about them as a whole person. Whether it’s their community engagement or major life events, positive behavior deserves recognition no matter where it happens. By acknowledging these achievements, you create a more supportive and engaging workplace culture that values your employees beyond their work contributions.

2. Constructive Employee Feedback

Talking Over Others

Enthusiastic employees may interrupt others in meetings, which can seem rude. While it’s important to value their ideas, ensure that everyone has a chance to speak. You can address this positively by acknowledging their passion or leadership qualities and redirecting their attention on listening to others too.

Missing Deadlines

Not meeting deadlines can affect the entire team and may indicate disorganization or an overwhelming workload. Take it as a chance for growth by encouraging employees to ask for help when needed. This helps you identify underlying issues that could be affecting their work, make it easier to find and fix problems, and boost team performance.

Dropping Productivity

If an employee’s productivity or performance is declining, it’s essential to find out why before offering feedback. There could be various reasons behind it, and it’s crucial to handle the issue constructively to show that you care about their success. Giving negative feedback may worsen the problem, so it’s worth noting to strike constructive feedback with care and offer support.

3. Employee Performance Feedback

Exceeding Expectations

When employees go above and beyond, let them know their efforts are appreciated to reinforce their positive behavior. Whether they’re putting in extra hours on projects, tackling challenging tasks, or showing a can-do attitude, acknowledging these actions can encourage them to keep up the good work. Doing so can boost employee engagement and motivation, leading to even more success for the team.

Meeting Expectations

When employees meet expectations, it’s important to show appreciation for their hard work. Providing specific feedback is an effective way to maintain positive behavior, make expectations clear, and motivate them to achieve more. Specific feedback shows that you value their contributions to the company, which can lead to increased engagement and job satisfaction. Ultimately, giving feedback that meets expectations creates a positive work environment that promotes growth and development, benefiting everyone involved.

Needing Improvement

When employees need to improve, giving specific feedback is essential. If someone only shows dedication when it’s convenient, or speaks negatively about the company, it’s important to redirect their focus. By identifying areas for improvement, you can help employees grow and become more engaged in their work. This creates a positive work environment that benefits everyone.

Ways that Feedback Boosts Employee Engagement

1. Gaining Employee Insights: One way that feedback boosts employee engagement is by helping organizations understand how their employees perceive their work environment – the company and their role. 
2. Driving Better Decision-Making: If companies gather employee feedback, they can learn important information that helps them make decisions that consider their employees’ needs and concerns. This can lead to greater engagement and buy-in from the workforce.
3. Enabling Benchmarking: Feedback also contributes to benchmarking, allowing organizations to compare their performance against internal or industry standards & KPIs, identify areas for improvement, and make necessary adjustments to improve employee engagement.

Want to boost your team’s happiness and productivity at work? Client Giant’s employee gifting program – Happier People, helps create a supportive environment where feedback is encouraged, hard work is celebrated, and team members can grow their skills. Chat with a member of our team to learn more.