How to effectively get feedback from your engineering team

As a technology leader, I understand that getting feedback from your engineering team is crucial for the success of any project or company. However, it can often be challenging to get honest and valuable feedback that can drive positive change. In this article, I'll share my insights on how to effectively get feedback from your engineering team, based on my years of experience leading successful tech teams.

Create a Culture of Feedback: To get feedback, you need to create a culture that encourages it. By making feedback a part of your team's daily routine, you can normalize it and make it easier for your team members to share their thoughts. As former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs once said, "It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do." By creating a culture that values feedback, you can tap into the expertise of your team and drive innovation.
Use Multiple Channels: Not everyone is comfortable giving feedback in a group setting or in person. That's why it's important to use multiple channels to get feedback, such as surveys, anonymous feedback forms, or one-on-one meetings. By providing a variety of options, you can ensure that everyone on your team has the opportunity to share their thoughts.
Listen Carefully: Getting feedback is only half the battle; you also need to listen carefully and take action based on what you hear. As former Intel CEO, Andrew Grove, once said, "The key is to listen to your team and give them the tools they need to do their job." By actively listening and responding to feedback, you can show your team that their opinions are valued and create a sense of trust and collaboration.
Follow Up: Getting feedback is not a one-time event. To truly drive change, you need to follow up on the feedback you receive and communicate what actions you're taking based on that feedback. By doing so, you can demonstrate that you're committed to improving and that your team's feedback is making a difference.
Provide Training: Providing training on how to give and receive feedback can help your team members feel more comfortable and confident in sharing their thoughts. By providing the necessary resources, you can empower your team to give valuable feedback that drives positive change.

Actionable : Implement the steps outlined in this article and continually assess the effectiveness of your feedback process. By making feedback a regular part of your team's routine, providing multiple channels for feedback, actively listening, following up, and providing training, you can create a culture of feedback that drives innovation and success.

As former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt once said, "We run this company on questions, not answers." By creating a culture of feedback, you can ask the right questions and drive positive change within your engineering team.