Not everyone likes to hear what others have to say - especially not if the other person is a colleague or even a subordinate team member in the hierarchy. Yet feedback is one of the mainstays when it comes to improving processes and structures, as well as individual learning. Only those who are open to feedback can reflect comprehensively and thus continuously optimize themselves and their working environment. But what is an open feedback culture? How can it be effectively promoted within an organization? And why is it so important, especially in the security sector?

A few steps to an open feedback culture

An open feedback culture is characterized by an open and trustworthy approach to positive as well as negative feedback from others - across all hierarchies. Feedback is always seen as an opportunity for improvement and for recognizing mistakes. For this reason, a positive error culture, in which errors are addressed openly and impartially, is also closely linked to an open feedback culture. But how can an open feedback culture be actively promoted? - These 5 steps will help:

  • Create suitable framework conditions: Regular meetings and a transparent exchange are the basis for an open feedback culture. Because only when everyone involved is fully in the picture can you form an informed opinion and share constructive feedback.

  • Actively solicit feedback: Because not everyone is comfortable giving others honest feedback - especially if it's negative. That's why managers in particular should actively and regularly ask their team members for honest feedback.

  • Take other people's feedback seriously: It is not always possible to understand the views or opinions of others. Therefore, try to enter into an open dialogue in order to recognize what exactly motivates your counterpart to adopt his or her point of view.

  • Follow up words with actions: Feedback can only be constructive if it provides an impetus for practice. So ask yourself what the feedback you receive means for your own actions and actively implement improvement measures.

  • Breathe life into the feedback culture: Make regular as well as spontaneous feedback an integral part of your work practice, and don't forget to always give others open, honest and transparent feedback as well.

  • Use feedback actively - not only in the safety area

If you see feedback as an opportunity for improvement, you have already taken the most important step toward an open feedback culture. This plays a central role, especially in the security sector. If you do not question your own actions and subject your decisions to the evaluation of others, you make a continuous improvement process almost impossible. Therefore, especially employees and management in the security sector, but also in other company units that have to deal with critical situations, should pay close attention to the feedback of others. Security Island offers professional e-learning for this purpose. Because only those who understand positive feedback as praise, and negative feedback as an opportunity for improvement, understand the art of being good.