What do you do if your feedback isn't sparking innovation and creativity?
When you give feedback, you're not just providing guidance—you're potentially igniting the spark of innovation and creativity. However, if your feedback consistently falls flat, it's crucial to reevaluate your approach. Feedback should be a catalyst for growth and new ideas, but if it's not resonating, it might be time to consider whether your feedback is constructive, clearly communicated, and actionable. By understanding the impact of your input and adjusting your strategy, you can transform your feedback into a powerful tool for inspiring creativity and driving innovation.
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Ankit SaxenaTechnology Leader, AI explorer, Cloud Enthusiast, SAFe Practitioner, Author, 2X Linkedin Top Voice
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Shankar RamaswamiLinkedIn Influencer,25x LinkedIn Top Voice. Financial Services Delivery Head - Nordics at Capgemini
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Prabhakar VDigital transformation|strategic Initiatives |Thought Leadership|AI
Before diving into the specifics of your feedback, step back and assess the overarching goals you're aiming to achieve. Are they clear and aligned with the individual's and the organization's objectives? Feedback should be tailored to help the recipient understand how their work fits into the bigger picture, fostering a sense of purpose and motivation. By setting clear, achievable goals, you're laying the groundwork for feedback that doesn't just critique, but empowers and inspires.
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Prabhakar V
Digital transformation|strategic Initiatives |Thought Leadership|AI
Feedback should be relent & offer insights. It should not be given simply for the sake of it. Change the style. Ensure your feedback is specific, actionable, and focused on potential improvements rather than just pointing out flaws. Highlight what is working well and suggest areas for further experimentation. Encourage a culture of calculated risk taking. Encourage ongoing learning and development. Provide resources, training, and time for team members to explore new skills and ideas.
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Shankar Ramaswami
LinkedIn Influencer,25x LinkedIn Top Voice. Financial Services Delivery Head - Nordics at Capgemini
Goals should be relevant to the individual's role, achievable, realistic, time-bound, and measurable. Clear and aligned goals provide a solid foundation for effective feedback, making it purposeful and focused. This strategic approach ensures that your feedback addresses immediate concerns and fosters long-term innovation and creativity, helping both the individual and the organization achieve their aspirations.
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Jayakumar Sundararaj
A servant leader, hands-on engineer, loves to help people.
Stale feedback? Time for a shake-up! Rethink your goals and charge full steam ahead with innovation and creativity. Let’s transform feedback into a launchpad for breakthrough ideas. Lead the charge—no looking back!
The way you deliver feedback can make a significant difference. If your current method isn't sparking innovation, try adjusting your communication style. Consider adopting a more collaborative approach, where feedback is a two-way conversation rather than a one-sided directive. This encourages recipients to engage with the feedback actively and view it as a constructive part of their creative process, rather than a discouraging roadblock.
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Shankar Ramaswami
LinkedIn Influencer,25x LinkedIn Top Voice. Financial Services Delivery Head - Nordics at Capgemini
Focus on fostering a supportive and open environment where team members feel valued and encouraged to share ideas. Use positive reinforcement and constructive language to inspire creativity and innovation. Additionally, tailor your approach to each individual's preferences and communication style. By adapting your communication style, you can better engage your team and inspire them to think creatively.
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Ankit Saxena
Technology Leader, AI explorer, Cloud Enthusiast, SAFe Practitioner, Author, 2X Linkedin Top Voice
Adjust Communication Style: Modify how you deliver feedback to be more collaborative and engaging. Encourage Two-Way Conversations: Foster an environment where feedback is discussed and explored together. Make Feedback Constructive: Frame feedback as a helpful part of the creative process, not as criticism. Promote Active Engagement: Ensure recipients see feedback as a tool for improvement and innovation, encouraging their participation.
One reason feedback may not inspire innovation is the fear of failure. Encourage a culture where taking calculated risks is valued and where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities. When providing feedback, highlight the potential for growth and experimentation. This approach not only fosters a more innovative mindset but also builds resilience and the willingness to push boundaries in pursuit of creative solutions.
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Shankar Ramaswami
LinkedIn Influencer,25x LinkedIn Top Voice. Financial Services Delivery Head - Nordics at Capgemini
Encourage a culture where taking calculated risks is valued, and mistakes are seen as learning opportunities. Emphasize that innovation often involves trial and error, and that setbacks are an inherent part of the process. By fostering a supportive environment where team members feel empowered to experiment and learn from failure, you can cultivate a culture of innovation and creativity.
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Ankit Saxena
Technology Leader, AI explorer, Cloud Enthusiast, SAFe Practitioner, Author, 2X Linkedin Top Voice
Encourage a Risk-Taking Culture: Promote an environment where calculated risks are valued and mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities. Highlight Growth Potential: When giving feedback, emphasize the opportunities for growth and experimentation. Foster Resilience: Support resilience by framing feedback in a way that encourages pushing boundaries and exploring creative solutions. Promote an Innovative Mindset: Cultivate a mindset that values innovation by reassuring team members that their efforts and risks are appreciated and necessary for creative progress.
For feedback to be effective, ensure that the necessary resources are available to act on it. This includes time, tools, or training that might be needed to explore new ideas or improve upon existing ones. When you offer resources alongside your feedback, you demonstrate commitment to the recipient's growth and provide practical means for them to innovate and create.
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Shankar Ramaswami
LinkedIn Influencer,25x LinkedIn Top Voice. Financial Services Delivery Head - Nordics at Capgemini
This includes providing sufficient time, tools, or training needed to explore new ideas or improve existing ones. Lack of resources can hinder implementation and demotivate team members. By investing in resources that support innovation, you empower your team to turn feedback into actionable outcomes, driving continuous improvement and creativity within the organization.
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Ankit Saxena
Technology Leader, AI explorer, Cloud Enthusiast, SAFe Practitioner, Author, 2X Linkedin Top Voice
Provide Necessary Resources: Ensure that time, tools, and training are available to explore and implement new ideas. Offer Practical Support: Accompany feedback with tangible resources to demonstrate commitment to the recipient's growth. Facilitate Innovation: Equip team members with what they need to act on feedback, fostering an environment where creativity can thrive. Demonstrate Commitment: Show that you are invested in their development by providing the means to turn feedback into actionable innovation.
Innovation is often stifled when feedback is one-directional. By actively listening to the concerns and ideas of those receiving feedback, you create an environment where creativity is nurtured. Pay attention to their responses and be open to adjusting your feedback based on their input. This exchange can lead to a deeper understanding of challenges and unlock innovative solutions that might not have been apparent from a single perspective.
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Shankar Ramaswami
LinkedIn Influencer,25x LinkedIn Top Voice. Financial Services Delivery Head - Nordics at Capgemini
By actively listening to the concerns and ideas of those receiving feedback, you create an environment where creativity is nurtured. Encourage open dialogue and welcome diverse perspectives, fostering a culture where every voice is valued. By incorporating feedback from all stakeholders, you gain valuable insights and empower your team to contribute to innovative solutions. This inclusive approach not only fosters creativity but also strengthens team engagement and collaboration.
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Michele Perrone
Professor Universitário | Diretor de Arte e Inovação | Especialista em Tecnologias Educacionais | Designer de Experiência da Aprendizagem
Active listening is a leader's main skill. You cannot lead without knowing how to listen to others, analyze their ideas, thoughts and even complaints. Thus, and only then can a leader improve the processes of creating and developing a team. We cannot innovate if we do not know the capabilities, objectives and desires of a team. By getting to know our team members, we can generate focused feedback, linking the company's objectives with those of the employee, motivating them to develop, take risks and thus develop the team and the company itself.
Lastly, ensure that your feedback process includes follow-through. Set up subsequent meetings to discuss progress and continue to offer support. This shows that you're invested in the long-term development of the person or team you're advising. Consistent follow-up can help maintain momentum and keep the focus on continuous improvement, which is essential for fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.
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Ankit Saxena
Technology Leader, AI explorer, Cloud Enthusiast, SAFe Practitioner, Author, 2X Linkedin Top Voice
Adjust Communication Style: Adopt a more collaborative approach to make feedback a two-way conversation, encouraging active engagement and viewing feedback as constructive. Encourage Risk-Taking: Foster a culture that values calculated risks and views mistakes as learning opportunities, highlighting growth potential in feedback. Provide Resources: Ensure time, tools, and training are available to act on feedback, demonstrating commitment to the recipient's growth. Follow-Through: Set up subsequent meetings to discuss progress and offer ongoing support, maintaining momentum and focusing on continuous improvement.
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