How can you use feedback to improve your project management skills?

1 What is feedback and why is it important?

Feedback is any information you receive about your performance, behavior, or results, which can come from different sources such as clients, stakeholders, team members, peers, mentors, or supervisors. It can be formal or informal, solicited or unsolicited, positive or negative, specific or general, and qualitative or quantitative. Feedback is important because it can help you measure your progress against goals and standards; identify areas for improvement; recognize strengths and achievements; learn from experiences and best practices; improve communication and collaboration skills; increase motivation and confidence; and adjust actions and strategies to changing situations and expectations.

3 How to use feedback to improve your skills?

Using feedback to improve your skills means being able to apply the feedback to your actions, decisions, and strategies in a timely and effective manner, as well as monitoring and evaluating the impact of the feedback on your performance. To do so, you should identify the key messages and insights from the feedback that are relevant and actionable for you. You should also prioritize the feedback based on its urgency, importance, and feasibility. Additionally, create a plan with SMART goals and actions, while seeking support and guidance from others who can help you achieve them. Furthermore, review and update your plan regularly, track your progress and achievements, and solicit more feedback along the way for continuous improvement and learning.

4 How to give feedback effectively?

Giving feedback effectively requires providing constructive, specific, and timely feedback in a clear, respectful, and supportive manner. To ensure success, it is important to establish the purpose and context of the feedback and make sure the recipient is ready and willing to receive it. The sandwich method can be used to structure the feedback, which starts with a positive comment, followed by a constructive criticism, and ends with another positive comment. The STAR method can be used to deliver the feedback, which describes the Situation, the Task, the Action, and the Result of the feedback. Additionally, using the I-message technique to express your feedback is beneficial; this involves stating your feelings, your observations, your needs, and your requests. Examples and evidence should be used to support your feedback rather than generalizations or judgments. Lastly, invite and listen to the recipient's response and acknowledge and appreciate their perspective.

5 How to foster a feedback culture?

Fostering a feedback culture means creating and maintaining an environment where feedback is valued, encouraged, and practiced by everyone involved in the project. It also requires developing and applying feedback policies, processes, and tools that facilitate and enhance feedback exchange and utilization. To foster a feedback culture, you should define the project’s vision, mission, and objectives, as well as how feedback contributes to them. Establishing and promoting the feedback norms and expectations is key, such as frequency, format, and criteria. Additionally, providing and allocating the necessary resources and support is essential for success. This includes training, coaching, and mentoring. Recognizing and rewarding feedback behaviors and outcomes should also be part of the process. This could include recognition, appreciation, or incentives. Lastly, modeling and demonstrating the right skills and attitudes is important; such as openness, honesty, and humility. Lastly, it’s important to solicit feedback about the feedback culture itself so that improvements can be made as needed.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?