{"id":2816,"date":"2020-08-03T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nailted.com\/blog\/?p=2816"},"modified":"2024-12-05T07:53:47","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T06:53:47","slug":"a-guide-to-giving-receiving-feedback-on-a-remote-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nailted.com\/blog\/a-guide-to-giving-receiving-feedback-on-a-remote-team\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Giving & Receiving Feedback on a Remote Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

[content_upgrade cu_id=”9155″]New guide! How to make feedback a habit in your company[content_upgrade_button]Donwload guide[\/content_upgrade_button][\/content_upgrade]<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

<\/p>\n

Like it or not, remote work has become more normal than ever. In the wake of restructuring nearly every part of life as we know it, teams that previously worked together in offices are working hard to develop strategies to adapt to remote work. For the most part, they\u2019re doing a fine job.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We say \u201cfor the most part\u201d because remote teams may allow extremely helpful\u2013even critical\u2013business practices fall by the wayside: namely, giving and receiving feedback. Separated by distance and limited in communication, remote teams are far less likely to take the extra step of providing feedback to one another. Perhaps seeing feedback as \u201cnon-critical\u201d or \u201cnon-essential,\u201d they may communicate only out of urgency or absolute necessity.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why that\u2019s a problem: giving and receiving feedback is critical to running an efficient, healthy team that continues to grow and evolve. In fact, most employees want<\/em> to receive feedback\u2013a study by Harvard Business Review reported that 57% of people desired constructive feedback<\/a> over pure praise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll look at why feedback is important, how to give and receive feedback on a remote team, and how to create a feedback strategy for the long haul.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Feedback: The Key to Success on a Remote Team<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re tempted to think of feedback as non-essential \u2013 an \u201cextra\u201d step that can be afforded to be overlooked \u2013 think again. As a remote team, you can\u2019t afford not<\/em> to give and receive feedback for the following reasons.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Feedback Facilitates Communication<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When a team gives and receives feedback regularly, that\u2019s a strong indicator of healthy communication.<\/strong> By creating a space for team members to honestly and openly communicate about weaknesses in a workflow, problematic habits or behaviors, or other challenging topics, feedback nurtures better communication (even if it feels uncomfortable<\/a>).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On a team where employees are working on their own remotely, this kind of communication is especially critical. When workers are encouraged to provide feedback on overall workflows as well as their colleagues, they continue to feel that they are part of a team<\/a>\u2013not just an individual unit working on their own. Their thoughts and opinions are valuable and important to the overall success of the team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Feedback<\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Feedback Helps You Identify Blind Spots<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Feedback doesn\u2019t only encourage healthy communication; it\u2019s also an actionable tool to help strengthen the business through resolving blind spots.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One of the reasons that blind spots (such as an inefficient workflow or\u00a0toxic relationship pattern<\/a>\u00a0between teammates) often get overlooked in a business context is that only one or two team members may actually be aware of the problem.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On a remote team, this problem is only compounded by the fact that employees typically only communicate about issues that are of an urgent or immediate nature\u2013not an ongoing pattern that may be damaging. By creating space for feedback, however, businesses give team members the opportunity to acknowledge these weaknesses without feeling awkward.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Feedback Feeds Progress<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Giving and receiving feedback can help teams evolve and grow on a macro-scale as well as a micro-scale. Feedback helps businesses to make wiser, more informed decisions about moving forward; it also helps encourage an attitude of continual learning and adjustment, and increases engagement. In fact, 43% of highly engaged employees<\/a> receive feedback at least once per week.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For teams that aren\u2019t able to meet together\u2013which can sap vision and motivation over time\u2013feedback can serve as a critical source of inspiration and motivation to improve.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Feedback Creates a Healthier, More Productive Team Culture\u00a0<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Healthy team cultures put people first; they value communication, passion, and integrity, and seek to help their employees grow. Some of the most well-known and influential companies in the world\u2013such as Netflix<\/a> and Google\u2013have been able to succeed as a result of their investment in individual employees and team culture.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Giving and receiving feedback feeds a healthy team culture by giving a voice<\/a> to every member of your team and creating space to evolve and grow. Companies like U.S.-based food producers and distributors Cargill have integrated employee feedback into their everyday processes to improve performance and<\/em> employee happiness. In fact, Cargill reports that feedback has increased performance by 40%<\/a>\u2013not only that, but 70% of their employees feel valued and have received helpful feedback.\u00a0<\/p>\n

[content_upgrade cu_id=”9155″] How to make feedback a habit in your company[content_upgrade_button]Donwload guide[\/content_upgrade_button][\/content_upgrade]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Feedback Strategies for Remote Teams<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As mentioned, remote teams face a particular set of challenges when it comes to giving and receiving feedback. Without frequent face-to-face communication or in-person interaction, team members are unlikely to organically provide feedback to each other or to their leadership. Not only that, but remote workers typically have a lesser degree of accountability than employees who work in an office, and may be less likely to actually integrate feedback.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fortunately, there are feedback strategies that will work for remote teams\u2013helping them overcome the challenge of distance, remote communication, and autonomous work.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Use Nailted<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One of the most effective ways to introduce a feedback strategy onto your team\u2013remote or otherwise\u2013is to make it a regular part of workflows with Nailted<\/a>. Nailted delivers weekly feedback surveys to team members to make providing and receiving feedback both easy and normative. You can also run special campaigns for more targeted feedback concerning team members\u2019 goals, progress, and alignment with your business. Finally, Nailted gives you actionable insight for responding to feedback and implementing real solutions. The best part? It\u2019s all online\u2026no in-person meetings necessary.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Try Video Call Check-Ins<\/h3>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It may not be realistic to host regular, one-on-one video calls to gather feedback from individual team members, but you may want to host an occasional team check-in via Zoom or Skype. This is an opportunity for team members to share feedback and address ongoing issues that may be hindering team progress or damaging workflows. Here are some tips for conducting an effective video call check-in with the whole team:<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n