Feedback is an important aspect of any organization. It’s the part of business communication that allows everyone involved to know how things are going and what others think about what’s happening. It allows for employees to know where they stand and how they could improve. Feedback also allows for team members to cooperate together, letting each other know how all the segments of their work relate to one another. When feedback is shared and discussed in a business meeting, then everyone can be on the same page and understand what to do next. Let’s take a few moments to consider what can be communicated in order to share effective feedback.
Feedback should always be balanced and meaningful, which will reinforce positive behaviors. It should mention specific instances so that the team members will understand what exactly was done well and they can continue to carry out. Feedback should also focus on building up and problem solving, not criticism or complaints.
In a general meeting with lots of people, the feedback given should be more about praise and what the team is doing right, rather than the points that individuals need to work on. Any specific points that an individual needs to correct can be given in a private one-on-one meeting.
The purpose of praise is to show people what success looks like, to show people what’s valued, and to give them a chance to repeat successful behaviors and work. What expressions can be used for what circumstance? Let’s discuss a few.
In a meeting, one way to provide feedback is commenting on the work that was done. If the team did perform well overall, then you can offer some general praise. For instance, you could say: “The team really nailed that!” This makes use of an idiom. To nail something, means to execute a task exceptionally well. You can think of hitting a nail on the head with a hammer, straight with one swing. This is precise and skillful. In like manner, to nail a particular task or achievement is to accomplish it successfully in an impressive way.
Another expression you could use is: “You completed the project with flying colors.” This means to not only have completed the task, but also to have excelled at it. The idiom comes from a time when ships would return to port with their colored flags raised indicating victory in a battle. Today, the expression is commonly used to denote skillful accomplishment.
You can be more specific with your feedback and mention a certain point that stood out for you. You could say something like this: “I admired that the project was…” and then mention the particular detail. Or you could say: “The team did an excellent job with…” and then state the specific task. By using these kinds of phrases, you will be able to indicate what exactly you are providing feedback on and it will be much more meaningful than just saying: “It was a job well done.”
You can also provide positive feedback for individual team members. If you would like to compliment the person, you could mention: “Your dedication is inspiring,” “I admire your work ethic and your talent,” or “I appreciate you taking the initiative on that!” These kinds of expressions build up the person and reinforce their resolve to continue doing good work.
Then you can also be specific about what aspect you appreciate about the person.
If the team member upheld corporate policies and worked towards the company’s goals when accomplishing the task, then you could say: “Thank you for championing the concepts we hold dear.” To champion something is to support a cause or to fight for something, so in this case it would indicate that the employee supported and worked hard for the company when carrying out the assignment.
If someone accomplished a certain feat in an exemplary manner that was worthy of imitation, then you could offer this praise: “I think it’s admirable that you…” and then mention the exact detail. If something is admirable, it means that it’s to be admired and deserving of respect. This expression is a nice way to acknowledge someone's quality work and due diligence.
Giving feedback, especially positive feedback, to your team members in a meeting is an important step in galvanizing your team. It promotes a spirit of cooperation and provides the motivation to continue working hard. There are many good expressions in English that can help you convey your thoughts and have just the right nuance to hit all the right chords in the room. So, the next time you need to give feedback in the form of praise in a meeting, try out some of these phrases!
Comments