Your team is struggling with communication. How can you foster effective peer-to-peer feedback?
If your team is having trouble communicating, fostering effective peer-to-peer feedback can help bridge the gap. Here’s how to promote healthy feedback:
- Encourage open dialogue: Create a safe space where team members can voice their thoughts without fear of judgment.
- Utilize structured formats: Implement regular feedback sessions using formats like 360-degree reviews.
- Provide training: Equip your team with the skills needed for constructive feedback through workshops or coaching.
What strategies have worked for improving communication within your team?
Your team is struggling with communication. How can you foster effective peer-to-peer feedback?
If your team is having trouble communicating, fostering effective peer-to-peer feedback can help bridge the gap. Here’s how to promote healthy feedback:
- Encourage open dialogue: Create a safe space where team members can voice their thoughts without fear of judgment.
- Utilize structured formats: Implement regular feedback sessions using formats like 360-degree reviews.
- Provide training: Equip your team with the skills needed for constructive feedback through workshops or coaching.
What strategies have worked for improving communication within your team?
-
Quintillian once said, "One should write in a way that makes it impossible for the reader to misunderstand." That goes for spoken word as well. Leaders leave nothing to chance. Eliminate, "I thought you said..." A successful method are Response Generators. These are powerful as they encourage being present and full attention by the listener, along with clarifying the precise issue/message. Questions such as, How so? In what way? Why now? Why is that important to you? Why is that important to the org/project? Also, ask them to describe a recent example. Using "describe" opens up the artist in the other person. Much more courteous than "tell me", which can come off a bossy. Tone is key. Be genuine, sincere, and not confrontational.
-
Effective communication skills is an art and a science; which I have long urged law schools to include in their curriculum as “Negotiations and Effective Communication Skills.” To address team communication struggles, foster a culture of constructive, peer-to-peer feedback by ensuring psychological safety—where team members feel safe to speak up. Use structured models like SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact) to keep feedback clear and respectful. Promote active listening and lead by example with timely, specific, and growth-oriented feedback that builds trust and accountability. Best way, however, would be starting with a simple training program on “Negotiations and Effective Communications Skills” to prevent mishaps before they happen.
-
tructured feedback only works when trust exists. Without it, even 360s feel like formal noise. I’ve seen small teams unlock real growth by normalizing 1:1 micro-feedback, casually and consistently. Training helps, but habit is what changes culture.
-
Promote a culture of trust by normalizing feedback as a growth tool. Train the team on giving and receiving constructive input using models like SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact). Encourage regular check-ins, peer reviews, and safe spaces for dialogue. Lead by example, showing that feedback is a shared responsibility.
-
When team communication breaks down, I create a culture where peer-to-peer feedback feels safe, useful, and expected. That starts with setting clear norms: focus on behaviors, not personalities; be specific, not vague; and aim to support, not criticize. I model it myself, offer frameworks like SBI (Situation-Behavior-Impact), and build regular feedback moments into team rituals. Consistent feedback isn’t just a skill — it’s a trust builder.
Rate this article
More relevant reading
-
PresentationsHow can you get effective feedback on your presentation skills from your supervisor?
-
TrainingHere's how you can prioritize and improve feedback from multiple sources effectively.
-
Constructive FeedbackHow do you use feedback frequency and timing to motivate and empower others?
-
TeamworkHow can you give feedback to a team member who is not communicating effectively?