An article in the October 2018 issue of Entrepreneur surveyed successful entrepreneurs on one question — How do you encourage your employees to give you honest feedback? Their responses were both interesting and practical.
One entrepreneur talked about the importance of establishing a culture that welcomes honest feedback. She makes it a point to ask her established employees, “What can I do to better support your growth here?” Or, “Is there anything that you wish I didn’t say or do?” Another added, “Don’t just say you want honest input and then create virtual roadblocks where employees are too intimidated to speak out.”
Another said it’s critical to act on the feedback once it is given. She explained how she once received word that her weekend emails were stressing out her team. She learned that every email from the boss seems like an important email, regardless of when it was sent. So, she learned to stop sending emails on weekends. Instead, if she finds herself working on a weekend, she leaves her emails in “draft” stage and sends them during working hours on workdays.
Another discussed the importance of switching it up. He regularly asks his employees, “You’re the CEO for a day — what would you do?” He then listens, takes notes, and follows up on anything that he commits to doing.
Another said that he gets the best feedback by taking it outside. He insists that spending social time with his employees nets him the best, most honest feedback. He is convinced that employees open up more when they are outside of the office.
You can read the Entrepreneur article in full here.
