How can you encourage open feedback on your team?

Defining the purpose of the feedback in a single and straightforward sentence is essential (Ex. Feedback for improving conversion rate or customer engagement). I suggest avoiding complex definitions. Keeping it vague, will make participants think more about what you tried to say rather than giving honest comments.

1. Define specific feedback goals that align with the team's objectives. 2. Clearly communicate these goals to team members, emphasizing the importance of constructive input for continuous improvement. 3. Encourage feedback related to individual performance, team dynamics, and overall project outcomes. 4. Regularly assess progress toward these goals and celebrate achievements to reinforce the value of open communication.

When in the process of defining what you'd like to achieve with the feedback you receive, it could help to start off with thinking about your own painpoints. In which space do you feel least comfortable, which area brings up the biggest doubts for you? It's a moment of reflection into your deepest vulnerabilities of the design process. Remember, receiving early feedback is key to reduce invested time & costs, so it's ok when things aren't perfect

Ensure a minimum of 1 workshop per week dedicated to A/B testing for end users and UX critique for the internal stakeholders, including the design team. Establish specific goals for each workshop, outlining key objectives and tasks.

It's important to set clear objectives for feedback. In my experience, this helps team members understand why their input is valuable and how it contributes to the product's success, not just as a formality and fostering a more purposeful feedback culture.

Encouraging open feedback on the team involves selecting effective feedback methods. For instance, conduct regular design critiques where team members can openly discuss and provide feedback on each other's work. Use collaborative tools like online feedback boards, allowing team members to share thoughts asynchronously. Additionally, establish a feedback loop during project retrospectives, where the team reflects on the design process and suggests improvements. By choosing diverse feedback methods, you create multiple avenues for team members to share insights comfortably, fostering an environment of openness and collaboration.

Regardless of which method you will use, try to keep it on point, simple and easy to go through. It shouldn't feel like work to the person giving feedback, but rather like an invitation and show of trust in their judgement

I would diversify feedback mediums To cultivate open feedback in our teams, it’s crucial to recognize the diversity in communication preferences. As UX designers, we know that user-centric approaches are key. This philosophy extends to selecting feedback methods within our teams: - Offer various feedback channels like anonymous digital platforms, visual tools - Encourage frequent, informal feedback sessions. These can be quick stand-ups or casual coffee chats, making feedback a regular, less intimidating part of our work. - Use design thinking workshops, such as empathy mapping, to foster understanding and creativity in the feedback process. - Recognize that some may prefer directness, others a nuanced approach.

While rules are very important, try to also provide a space (maybe at the end) where you invite for some more "free thought". Make sure to reiterate and remind about the rules around respect to avoid getting too personal, but allow for the person to express their more personal thoughts and insights regarding the matter.

One way of doing this is by showing a small video on the relevant topic to ease the participants. Most people associate feedback with anxiety and negating feelings. It shouldn't be like that. Perhaps, a lighthearted video or story can help.

Promote a culture of peer-to-peer feedback. This encourages team members to learn from each other and fosters a collaborative atmosphere.

With colleagues, peers it could also help to expand on how the act of giving feedback in the most constructive manner is a fantastic learning tool and provides hands on practice. Make them see it as a case study and an opportunity to gain experience for themselves

Foster a Safe and Encouraging Feedback Environment - nurture a supportive and encouraging atmosphere where team members can freely express their perspectives without fear of criticism or reprisal. Foster open communication and respectful dialogue to ensure feedback is received with an open mind and constructive intent. In return, demonstrate your commitment to feedback by acknowledging and responding to it promptly. Acknowledge the value of the feedback received, even if it points out areas for improvement. Thank team members for their contributions and provide constructive feedback in return.

Here are a few offers: - looking back is most useful when applied NEXT. Focus on a better next. - 80/20 applies. 80% listening, 20% talking - show how you apply feedback to your work by shifting your behavior or approach. The team will notice.

Be grateful to receive feedback. How it's delivered can but should not affect what you do about it. Hopefully you receive good feedback as well as bad. Even if it's for doing the job you are paid to do

One thing I found helpful is the fact that feedback is like a positive criticism, not exactly what you want to hear but the efficiency of acting on it because testers are users. Communicating feedback and sharing feedback results are crucial part of improvement to the product.

Apart from sharing the feedback that you did take into account, when communicating this, you could also acknowledge those elements that you decided not to delve into deeper and try to explain why. Here it's important to also apply the feedback rules yourself, because this stage is like giving feedback yourself.

Acting on feedback is crucial in demonstrating its value. I've seen that when team members observe their suggestions being implemented, it significantly boosts their engagement. For example, in a project where feedback highlighted a need for better user accessibility, we promptly incorporated these insights into the design. This not only improved our product but also showed the team that their input was not just heard but valued and acted upon, fostering a more active and invested feedback culture.

You can harness the feedback received to pinpoint areas for enhancement and implement practical modifications. You can also periodically review feedback to evaluate its impact on project outcomes.

Feedback matters, both from the team and non team members in order to get a proper view on the design. This brings to mind a concept of guerrilla testing, which simply implies that the designer goes to meet a random person to get a raw, unfiltered feedback on the product, as this person isn’t really likely to try and sugar coat things if there’s anywhere that something isn’t right. The idea is to basically get quality feedback from diverse sources.

Reward those who actively participate in giving and receiving feedback. When members of the team are rewarded for their feedback, it encourages others to improve more on giving feedbacks

Regular performance assessments and constructive feedback help us identify areas where designers might need improvement and further development. This also ensures that our team keeps growing and evolving.

Foster an environment where team members feel safe expressing their opinions without fear of reprisal. Build trust through transparent communication and consistent support.

Document the progress. If you make an action after receiving feedback make sure it’s documented and can be tracked after some time to reflect on what impacted a decision. Feedback can change overtime and some actions may need to be revised. Having previous context at hand can help you understand what has changed in the meantime and make a better informed decision.

The importance of feedback is significant not only in work but in every area of life. First, define the criteria and goals of feedback and communicate them early to the team. The most important thing is to create an appropriate culture within your team so that team members don't hesitate to participate and give their feedback without any kind of fear. In my experience, most people don't know how to be courteous, respectful, and constructive while giving feedback. Try to conduct some sessions where leaders of organizations can teach this. Lastly, after receiving feedback from everyone, identify common patterns and issues, and take action on them. Don't forget to follow up with team members about progress for further feedback.