Page 148 - Anne Bruce - Building A HIgh Morale Workplace (2002)

128 Building a High Morale Workplace

those ideas to suggest changes for improving performance and
the workplace.

Feedback—the Gift
Think of feedback (all kinds) as a gift and encourage your
employees to do the same. Tell employees that feedback offers

enormous life-changing value. One small piece of feedback can
alter the course of a person’s life or the course of the work envi-
ronment toward higher morale and initiative. When we choose
to learn from the feedback we receive—positive or construc-

tive—we can use the gift we’ve been given to improve perform-
ance, productivity, and morale.

Get “Up and Go” Model for Feedback
Get…
Understand others.
• Recognize how each employee prefers to receive your feedback.
• Create a safe environment for fostering feedback.
• Adjust your approach for the person to whom you are addressing
the feedback.
Plan the appropriate message for your feedback.
• It’s not just what you say, but also how: monitor your tone and vol-
ume.
• Think before you speak.
• Separate facts from feelings.
and
Give helpful and constructive feedback in a timely manner.
• Adjust your style when necessary. Be empathetic and sensitive.
• Be aware of your nonverbal communication and body language.
• Be constructive, not destructive.
Obtain feedback willingly and with appreciation.
• Show that you’re genuinely thankful and appreciative.
• Ask questions that demonstrate your interest and concern.
• Be open-minded.There’s no right or wrong feedback—just feedback.
Note: Give this model to your employees.You may want to reproduce
and laminate it as a wallet-size card and encourage employees to ref-
erence it often. Do the same yourself.