Employee Feedback

Listening to what your employees have to say about the company is vital to your company’s growth, both internally and externally. Sometimes it’s a challenge to generate this kind of constructive feedback on a consistent basis. It may be time to sweeten the pot. Here are a couple suggestions:-

-Conduct a monthly contest for the suggestion that is the most revenue generating or most cost saving for the company. Give prizes to the most creative suggestions in one or both of these categories. Try to put the suggestion into place as soon as possible, but don’t commit yourself to an actual timetable, and don’t guarantee that the suggestion will definitely be implemented. After all, things may happen that could hinder the idea’s progress, and tying yourself down to a plan that became unworkable will compromise future suggestions by your staff.

-Try the old standby: the suggestion box. Make it anonymous, and see what responses you get. Employees who are cloaked in anonymity will naturally be more candid, and it could lead to a suggestion you never would have thought of otherwise, or to a problem that you didn’t know existed.

-Ask. Solicit advice from employees in an impromptu format, like at the water cooler or in the parking lot. Most employees would be flattered to be asked for their advice. Oh, and make sure you listen closely to what they say, and thank them for their opinions, no matter what they may be.

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