TIL a manager at my store said 'the best feedback is the kind you ask for'

I was grabbing coffee yesterday and overheard our district manager talking to a new hire. He said he blocks out 15 minutes every Friday just to ask his team one simple question: 'What's one thing I could do to help you next week?' He told her it stopped big problems before they start and made his people feel heard. It made me think, I always wait for people to come to me with issues. What if I was the one starting that talk? Has anyone else tried setting up a regular time just to ask for feedback from their team?

3 comments

3 Comments

vera2921mo ago

My buddy's boss started doing weekly check-ins like that. He said it felt weird at first, but it actually caught a scheduling mess before it blew up. Now he swears by it.

abby_harris1mo ago

Yeah, that "stop big problems before they start" part is key. I started doing a quick Monday morning huddle and just ask, "What's your biggest roadblock right now?" It forces people to name one specific thing, which is way easier for them to answer than a vague request for feedback.

the_willow14d agoTop Commenter

I read something similar about that "forces people to name one specific thing" idea. It said asking for a single, small piece of feedback gets way more honest answers than a big open question. People don't feel put on the spot that way.