How do you train and develop you team? Conferences are a great way to incorporate team building and team training. However, I’ve noticed that the things I learn in conferences rarely get applied. Also, I forget what I’ve learned after a few weeks. Conferences can be costly and typically teams attend only once a year.
There is a more effective and less costly way to train and develop your team members. It’s through feedback. Feedback helps your team grow and gives real time constructive and practical help. And the best part of it is… it’s free. you don’t have to pay someone to do it. It’s important that you set it up well and carefully. It can be potentially damaging and backfire if you don’t lay the ground work. Here are four steps to doing effective feedback for you team.
1. Leader sets the ground rules
It is important for the leader to set the tone when starting the feedback exercise. You can do this in as few 5 minutes. Remind your team why you are doing this. It is to help develop and equip team members to be the best that they can be in their role. Also, it’s important to explain that this isn’t to attack or criticize people. The focus isn’t on the person but rather something they are doing in their job. It’s a way to help them develop better skills and tools. Teach your team to focus on the issue, not the person.
2. Focus on a specific topic
It’s important not to do feedback on anything that people want to bring up. If you do this then you’ll open up things that you never would have imagined or guessed. People may start to share what annoys them about other team. It can get go in a very different direction than what you had intended. It’s important for the feedback to have a specific topic or area of focus that everyone can relate to and be part of. You can do feedback on how your team writes an email, how they communicate on stage or how they lead meetings. Write down a list of common responsibilities and activities on your team. Feedback should be on one topic that applies to the whole team.
3. Have the Leader go first
Always have the leader start first. It’s important to model this so that the team feels like they can give the feedback. They will trust that they can receive your feedback too. Expect your team to be hesitant to share feedback initially. It is important to encourage them to be honest and open. The more that you do this, the easier and comfortable your team will get. This will be a good experience for you as the leader too.
4. Debrief
After everyone has given feedback, then debrief the experience. Ask your team if this was helpful and what did they learn about themselves and others. When you discuss this, it gives closure to this vulnerable time as well as creates more team bonding. Your team will feel closer and more unified after each person shares their experience.
This can be scary but you will make better leaders out of your team. You’ll see more improvement and growth in your team through this simple exercise.
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