The Power of Feedforward: How to Focus on the Future for Greater Success

Feedback has long been considered the key to success in the workplace. We've been taught to look back at past performances, identify areas for improvement, and adjust our behaviour and performance accordingly. However, it isn't always effective as it often puts people into a threat state, which is opposite to what we are trying to achieve. So what if we told you there's a better way? A way that focuses on the future rather than dwelling on the past? And instead of putting the recipient into a threat state, it has them operating from their pre-frontal cortex, meaning they take more information in and process it in a way that supports the change required. That's where feedforward comes in.

Feedforward is a concept introduced by Marshall Goldsmith in the early 2000s. Goldsmith developed the concept of feedforward as an alternative to feedback, which he believed had limitations in encouraging positive change and fostering growth. Feedforward is a technique that helps us focus on the future and achieve our goals more effectively. Instead of looking back on what went wrong and trying to fix it, feedforward focuses on identifying what we can do better next time.

"Feedforward is a gift we can give each other. It can help people change their future behaviour and achieve their goals in a positive, supportive environment." - Marshall Goldsmith

Feedforward builds High-Performance

From a neuroscience perspective, feedforward and feedback can impact the brain and behaviour differently. Feedback often puts the recipient into a threat state where emotions run high, and the recipient can perceive it as being a 'personal attack' on them. In contrast, feedforward fuels our brain to operate from the pre-frontal cortex providing many more benefits than feedback. Some benefits of feedforward from a neuroscience perspective include the following:

1. Positive emotions: When we receive feedback, it can activate the brain's threat response and trigger negative emotions like fear and defensiveness. In contrast, feedforward can activate the brain's reward system and trigger positive emotions like curiosity, excitement, and motivation. This can help people feel more engaged and energised about making improvements.
2. Focus on solutions: Feedback can activate the brain's analytical and critical thinking processes, which can help identify problems and mistakes. However, this focus on negative information can lead to a more pessimistic mindset and make it harder to come up with solutions. In contrast, feedforward can activate the brain's creative and innovative thinking processes, which can help people come up with new ideas and solutions.
3. Learning and growth: Feedforward can activate the brain's learning and growth processes, essential for developing new skills and knowledge. When we receive feedforward, our brains are more open to new information and more receptive to making changes. This can help people develop new habits and behaviours more quickly and effectively.
4. Collaborative and social: Feedforward can activate the brain's social and collaborative processes, essential for building strong relationships and effective teamwork. When we receive feedforward, we are more likely to feel supported and encouraged by others, which can help us feel more motivated and engaged in our work.

Benefits of Feedforward

Feedforward offers several benefits over traditional feedback, including a forward-looking, solution-oriented, collaborative, motivating, and growth-oriented approach to improvement. Feedforward can promote a positive safety culture, improve the employee experience, and promote a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. By focusing on what can be done differently in the future and using positive language, we can create a culture that encourages growth and improvement, empowers individuals, and fosters collaboration and creativity in the workplace.

Some key benefits of feedforward for individuals:

1. Empowerment: Feedforward can help individuals feel more empowered and engaged in their work. Focusing on what they can do to improve in the future can create a sense of ownership over their work and encourage them to take the initiative to make positive changes.
2. Positive reinforcement: Feedforward can provide positive reinforcement for individuals, which can be more motivating than negative feedback. When individuals receive constructive suggestions for improvement, it can help them feel more confident and supported in their work.
3. Growth mindset: Feedforward can help promote a growth mindset where individuals are encouraged to view challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement. This can help individuals feel more motivated to take on new challenges and strive for excellence in their work.
4. Continuous improvement / Professional Development: Feedforward can help foster a culture of continuous improvement where individuals are always looking for ways to improve and develop their careers. This can increase innovation and productivity as individuals are encouraged to take risks and try new approaches. It can also lead to increased engagement and job satisfaction.

Some key benefits of feedforward for workplace culture:

1. Collaborative community culture: Feedforward can promote a collaborative community culture where employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas, opinions and concerns. This can help build strong relationships and trust between team members, improving communication, collaboration and teamwork.
2. Positive reinforcement: Feedforward can provide positive reinforcement for employees, which can help create a more positive workplace culture. When employees feel supported and encouraged in their work, it can improve morale and job satisfaction.
3. Growth mindset: Feedforward can help promote a growth mindset in the workplace where employees are encouraged to view challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement. This can help promote a culture of innovation and creativity, leading to increased employee engagement, job satisfaction, productivity and success for both employees and the business.
4. Continuous improvement: Feedforward can help foster a culture of continuous improvement where employees are always looking for ways to improve. This can create a culture of high performance where everyone is encouraged to take risks and try new approaches.

Feedforward Improves Workplace Safety Conversations

In the workplace, safety is always a top priority. However, traditional safety conversations focusing on feedback and criticism can often create a negative mindset and hinder progress. Using feedforward in safety conversations offers several benefits over traditional feedback, including a forward-looking, solution-orientation, collaborative, motivating and growth-oriented approach to improvement. This can create a positive safety culture where everyone is engaged in safety improvement efforts.

Encouraging open communication, focusing on the future, and using positive language can all help promote safety awareness and prevent safety incidents from occurring in the first place. By focusing on what can be done differently in the future and using positive language, we can create a culture that encourages growth and improvement, empowers individuals, and fosters collaboration and creativity in the workplace while promoting a safe and healthy work environment.

Here are some ways feedforward can improve safety conversations:

1. Set clear safety goals: Start by setting clear safety goals for your organisation. This can include specific targets for reducing incidents or near-misses, improving safety training programs, or implementing new safety protocols.
2. Encourage open communication: Create a psychologically safe environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas, opinions and concerns on safety. Encourage open communication and make sure everyone has a chance to contribute. Foster an atmosphere where employees can speak up about potential safety hazards without fear of retribution.
3. Focus on the future: When discussing safety incidents, hazards, and near-misses, focus on what can be done differently rather than dwelling on the past. Encourage everyone to come up with suggestions for improvement and identify ways to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
4. Use positive language: When discussing safety, use positive language that encourages growth and improvement. Avoid negative language that can create a defensive or resistant mindset. Emphasise the benefits of safety improvements, such as protecting workers' health, safety and well-being, increasing employee engagement and job satisfaction, increasing morale, reducing downtime, improving productivity, etc.
5. Provide regular (relevant, engaging, and meaningful) safety training: Regular safety training can help reinforce safety practices and promote a culture of safety within an organisation as long as the training is engaging, relevant and meaningful (we will talk about this in another post). Encourage employees to attend safety training sessions and provide opportunities to share their ideas, opinions and concerns on safety.

What next?

Feedforward is a powerful tool for promoting growth and continuous improvement in the workplace. By focusing on the future and using positive language, we can create a culture that encourages growth, empowers individuals, and fosters collaboration and creativity. Using feedforward in safety conversations can also create a positive safety culture, improve the employee experience, and promote a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

So if you're looking to improve your workplace culture, consider implementing feedforward in your performance management processes and safety conversations. Start by setting clear goals, fostering open communication, and focusing on the future. Encourage a growth mindset, provide regular feedback, and create a culture of continuous improvement. By doing so, you can help your team reach their full potential and achieve success.

Need Help?

At Insync Workplace Solutions, we are dedicated to helping organisations create a positive, inclusive, physically and psychologically safe workplace culture that promotes employee development and enables individuals and organisations to thrive.

Our team of experts can guide and support you in setting clear goals, fostering open communication, and using positive language to create a continuous improvement and growth culture. We can also provide customised training programs and coaching sessions to help you implement feedforward in your organisation.

Please get in touch with us today to see how we can help your team reach their full potential and thrive.