{"id":9068,"date":"2014-09-16T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/creator\/?p=9068"},"modified":"2020-03-30T19:00:04","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T23:00:04","slug":"welcome-honest-feedback-without-obstructing-vision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/professional-development\/welcome-honest-feedback-without-obstructing-vision","title":{"rendered":"Welcome honest feedback without obstructing your vision"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a manager, you already know that feedback\u2014when given constructively\u2014can only help your employees and team.<\/p>\n

But you probably also know that, when you\u2019re the boss, getting it out of people is easier said that done.<\/p>\n

The truth is, getting\u2014and giving\u2014honest feedback<\/a>\u00a0is all about trust. But to achieve that level of trust, you have to lay a foundation of open and authentic communication within your company.<\/p>\n

Amazon is so extreme in its pursuit of honesty that CEO Jeff Bezos actually encourages leaders to actively challenge each other\u2019s decisions when they disagree. He hates the idea of\u00a0what he calls social cohesion<\/a>\u00a0and has built a culture based on healthy feedback and confrontation.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to be quite that extreme, but if you\u2019re having trouble getting honest feedback, it\u2019s time to take a close look at why\u2014and get started making some changes within\u00a0your culture<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Reasons We Avoid Feedback<\/h2>\n

There are several reasons people are often cautious about speaking up. Often, they\u2019re afraid their words will be used against them. If your employees are concerned about how their feedback will be used, they\u2019ll either disengage or give you feedback that\u2019s \u201csafe\u201d rather than honest.<\/p>\n

They may also doubt your commitment to making a change. If they sense that you\u2019re just trying to \u201ccheck the box\u201d by asking what they think, they won\u2019t waste their time or put themselves at risk by telling the truth. People are creatures of habit, so if your employees have been burned by providing honest feedback in the past\u2014and then having it go nowhere\u2014they won\u2019t want to do it again.<\/p>\n

To beat these fears, you need to be crystal clear about how you\u2019ll use your employees\u2019 feedback: what will happen, what won\u2019t happen, and how they can help (other than just reporting frustrations). And, most importantly, you need to be committed to hearing the truth and\u00a0enacting changes<\/a>\u00a0that will help your company grow. On that note:<\/p>\n

How to Make a Change<\/h2>\n

To gain a true picture of your employees\u2019 day-to-day experiences, you have to create a company culture that promotes honesty. Here are a few ways to prime your company for more honest feedback:<\/p>\n