Online Team Feedback Mechanisms

I had my review today. Here’s how we do ‘reviews’ at August Public: 1. It’s the same for everyone, regardless of tenure, role, or seniority. 2. Every team member has a ‘Development Advocate’ who’s job is to help the team member get whatever they need to learn and get better. (This person is not their Manager.) 3. ~1 time per year, on a self-determined schedule, each team member has a ‘Getting Better on Purpose’ (aka ‘GBOP’) session. 4. Before the GBOP session, the team member shares a self-reflection (usually in written form), and collects feedback from other team members. All team members that you worked with most closely are generally obligated to share, and other team members are invited but not obligated. 5. Feedback is shared and collected from all other teammates in the same way, regardless of tenure, role, or seniority. 6. Feedback is not anonymous (and is typically accessible to all team members in a shared team development Google Folder). 7. The feedback goes directly to the person it’s being shared with, along with that team member’s Development Advocate. 8. The team member and Development Advocate read and synthesize the feedback, and create an agenda for the GBOP session. 9. The GBOP session is usually 90 minutes, and is a team session including all the people who have worked most closely with the team member (again, regardless of tenure, role, or seniority). All team members participate equally. 10. The Development Advocate typically facilitates the GBOP session, and the group collectively discusses the things that are most relevant and important to this team member’s growth. Typically this includes highlighting the things they are doing very well, how and why they are appreciated, where they can be doing better, and in what ways the rest of the team would like to see them develop. 11. Based on the discussion, the group will typically leave with a few specific commitments for how they can support this person’s development. Of course this isn’t perfect, but after many years and many teammates, I really appreciate this approach. How does this compare to how your company does reviews?

💬 Team Feedback: The Key to Improving Processes and Prioritization One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a Product Manager is that no one understands the challenges of a process better than the people experiencing it daily. That’s why team feedback isn’t just valuable — it’s essential. Here’s how I approach collecting and using feedback to improve processes and prioritization: 1️⃣ Create Safe Spaces for Feedback Feedback only works when the team feels they can speak openly without fear of judgment. Retrospectives, 1:1s, or even a private Slack channel can be great avenues. 2️⃣ Go Beyond Formal Meetings Some of the best insights come from casual conversations. Being approachable and open to feedback outside of structured moments makes a huge difference. 3️⃣ Turn Feedback into Action Listening without acting leads nowhere. After collecting feedback, I prioritize what can be adjusted quickly and communicate to the team how the issues are being addressed. 4️⃣ Highlight the Impact I always connect feedback to the outcomes it generates. For example: a suggestion to streamline a refinement process can translate into more time to focus on high-impact deliveries. 💡 Real Example: In a recent retro, the team mentioned that communication about priorities between devs and designers could be clearer. In response, we introduced a weekly priority alignment meeting between these areas, often referred to as a “trio meeting.” The result? Fewer misunderstandings and a much smoother workflow. What about you? How do you collect and use feedback with your team? I’d love to hear your ideas and practices in the comments! 👇 #ProductManagement #Leadership #Feedback #TeamManagement #ContinuousImprovement

6 ways to embed a culture of continuous feedback in your UX team Im always a big advocate for continuous feedback, or really feed-forward as I'd rather focus on the future than on the past. But before I drift off into too many details on that. Here's how i incorporate continuous feedback within our UX team: • Schedule regular feedback sessions: Make feedback sessions a routine part of your project timelines. These should be frequent and expected, providing regular opportunities for everyone to share insights and improvements early and often. • Foster an open environment: It’s important that everyone feels comfortable giving and receiving feedback. Stress that feedback is about growth and improvement, not criticism. This promotes a more open and trusting team atmosphere. • Use multiple feedback channels: Not everyone communicates in the same way, so it’s useful to mix things up. Incorporate different feedback methods like one-on-one meetings, group brainstorming sessions, and even anonymous digital forms to capture everyone’s perspectives. • Encourage peer reviews: Enable team members to give feedback to each other. Peer reviews can be incredibly effective as they come from colleagues who really understand the day-to-day challenges of UX projects. • Implement real-time feedback tools: Use tools that support real-time feedback, such as shared online platforms where team members can leave comments and make edits directly on designs. This helps keep the feedback immediate and relevant. • Educate on constructive feedback: Offer guidance on how to provide helpful feedback. Focus on making sure that the feedback is clear, actionable, and delivered in a supportive manner. This helps everyone learn how to contribute positively to each other’s work. How do you handle feedback in your UX team(s)? What tips do you have for making feedback constructive and positive? I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions below! 👇

A 10-minute feedback session turned our junior designer's mockup into our highest-rated client presentation. Here's exactly how. Last quarter, one of our junior designers approached me with a design that did not meet our standards. Instead of rushing to solve it myself, I decided to take a different approach. I conducted a 10-minute breakdown of colour psychology and typography, which significantly enhanced our junior designer's understanding. They gained not just the how but the why behind every design decision. This success inspired our current feedback system—we implemented a quick 5-minute discussion after every client meeting that focused purely on actionable improvements. In these focused discussions, we analyze wins and improvement areas. 📍 Team leads share observations first; then, we open the floor for everyone's perspective. This two-way approach ensures no insight goes unnoticed. 📍 When team members spot process gaps or innovation opportunities, we implement changes immediately—every piece of feedback ties directly back to improving our deliverables. The results after implementing this system were amazing: 📌 Design revision cycles dropped from 6 to 2 rounds 📌 Project timelines shortened by 35% 📌 That junior designer now leads our most complex rebranding projects Most founders overcomplicate feedback systems with lengthy quarterly reviews, but the truth is consistent: short discussions are enough to create faster improvements. What's the most valuable feedback you've received from your team? #entrepreneurship #business #team

Last week I mentioned implementing programs like "Food for Thought" to encourage brainstorming and outside-the-box thinking, as it relates to creating a culture of communication and feedback. Before the pandemic, I used to bring in breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack and call the meeting Food for Thought where I would get feedback from the team on what is going well and what are the opportunities for improvement. Here are some ideas to incorporate this in a #hybridworkforce: ✅ Virtual Coffee Chats: Schedule virtual coffee sessions where team members can gather online and have casual conversations. This informal setting encourages open discussions and allows for sharing ideas and feedback. ✅ Collaborative Document Sharing/ Online Idea Forums: Utilize collaborative document-sharing tools such as Google Docs or Microsoft Teams to encourage real-time collaboration. Team members can contribute their ideas, provide feedback, and collectively work on projects or problem-solving tasks. ✅ Virtual Brainstorming Sessions: Conduct virtual brainstorming sessions using video conferencing tools. Facilitate interactive discussions where team members can share their ideas and engage in creative problem-solving exercises. ✅ Surveys and Polls: Use online survey tools to gather feedback from team members on specific topics or projects. Surveys can be anonymous to ensure open and honest responses, and the results can be shared and discussed during team meetings. ✅ Virtual Team Building Activities: Organize virtual team-building activities that encourage collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving. These activities can include virtual escape rooms, online trivia games, or team challenges that promote communication and thinking outside the box. Remember, the key is to provide opportunities for active participation and engagement, regardless of the physical location of team members. By embracing technology and fostering a culture of open communication, you can create a collaborative environment conducive to generating new ideas and seeking feedback. Which idea do you like the most? #hybridsales #communication #culture #hybridwork