Why you shouldn't let feedback 'flow'

TL;DR: Feedback doesn't organically flow or magically happen, because giving good feedback is hard work. Feedback needs to be embedded in a plan, system or habit for it to start flowing. Without a plan, it will end up at the bottom of your priority list, only to regret not prioritizing feedback a few months later. Telling people how you think they are doing is your moral obligation. I've built a template for a plan and a guide on how to implement it. You can check it out right here.

Why is this important? ??

Dear founder, CEO, Chief People Ops person,

Not giving feedback to people is a crime and it will cost you talent and money. But aligning on expectations and telling people how they are doing is easier said than done. Let's be honest, it is a myth that it will flow organically. Feedback doesn't magically happen, it's hard work. But how are your people to succeed, if nobody tells them what good looks like and how they are doing? It's your moral obligation to tell people how you feel about the work they do. More importantly, good feedback will make people happy and thrive in their roles. And yes, that is good for business.

What you need to do ??

You need a plan and structure. HR guru's will tell you that's nonsense, 'Let it flow man, you don't need rules or managers, woohoo', I'm clearly not a guru. In my 10+ years of advising companies big and small, I've not come across a sustainable example of this. So I strongly believe you need to organize this in some shape or form.

But Roland, I hate performance reviews!

Well, join the club. Nobody likes filling in forms and giving ratings, but it's a means to an end. So get creative, experiment and have fun with it. Come up with something that fits your company culture. Don't focus too much on the practicalities, focus on getting started and building a structure for continuous feedback.

How to do it ??

Think of feedback as a product and your colleagues as customers. If feedback is what you're selling, you need a compelling product that is easy to use and adds value.

If you're serious about this, Ive built a template you can use. I've done all the prep work for you, all you need to do is tailor it to your company. You can find it here ???? (use earlybird2022 for 50% off ??)

To get started, this ???? guide is great, but not the only way. If you're fairly new to this, I recommend you read through these great resources below and start small. For example, with making sure that feedback is on the agenda for every 1on1 in your company. Sounds doable right? You owe it to your colleagues. Good luck and enjoy the ride.