No More Frightening Feedback: How to Break the Spell

Lurking in the shadows, where its presence grows more imposing by the minute, fueled by fear, scary rumors, and the unknown … Is it a ghost? Or employee morale?

Employee feedback can be scary for a lot of employers, especially in frontline industries where the jobs are demanding and turnover is high. Likewise, when employees feel kept in the dark, their imaginations can run wild, conjuring up fears that pervade the workplace. WorkHound brings it all into the light, establishing a key new form of ongoing real-time feedback that illuminates the path forward — free from fear.

3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Fear Feedback

1. Employee Feedback Can Improve Customer Service

Up to 80% of customers say their experience with a company is as important as its products or services. And it makes sense. Imagine you go to a shoe store to buy a pair of shoes, but the sales representatives are rude and unhelpful. Even if you did find the shoes you want at the store, you would still probably consider it a poor experience. In many ways, the worker experience overlaps with the customers’. By building a positive workplace that empowers and supports employees, you create a culture of empowerment. This positive worker experience spills over into the customer experience, which in turn creates a happier environment for everyone.

Happy workers are empowered. ➡️ Empowered workers deliver better service. ➡️ Better service creates happy customers. ➡️ Happy customers make happy workers. ➡️ 🙂

2. Information Breeds Confidence

…And silence breeds fear. When left unchecked and ignored, the pressures of frontline work mount, leading to a dysfunctional workplace, dissatisfied workers and a disengaged workforce. It typically starts with fear, which quickly pervades the work experience. With fear of layoffs, change, and other things left to gossip and imagination, workers become increasingly dissatisfied with their jobs and more focused on their personal well-being.

Conversely, when armed with information, workers can anticipate change, understand what it means to them, and know what to expect for the future. And remember, information should flow in two directions, sharing messages from the company to the workforce and listening to what the workforce has to say. With anonymous mechanisms in place to capture feedback, employees can ask questions about everything from big organizational change like mergers and acquisitions to the nuances of day-to-day work, like mileage discrepancies or pay changes.

3. Employers Don’t Know What They Don’t Know

Recent research from McKinsey suggests there is a stark difference in what employers think frontline workers want and what they do want. Most employers have an “incomplete picture,” of employee needs and goals — especially when it comes to career opportunities. For example, employers tend to think highly of job titles, vacation time, and sick time. Meanwhile, research shows that most workers actually prioritize job growth, learning, and pay. Those are strikingly different goal posts.

Even with good intentions, leaders can miss the mark and misinterpret the employee experience. But, with a steady stream of feedback, they can dial in and make sure they’re on the same page as their team, leading to a more in-sync and productive workplace.

Take Feedback Out of the Shadows

Don’t let the shadows of uncertainty loom over your workplace. Embrace employee feedback and let WorkHound light the path to a more engaged, motivated, and productive team.

Ready to make a change? Discover how anonymous real-time communication can transform your business. Get in touch for a free demo today.