Improve Your Business Inside and Out with VoIP and Good Feedback

It's tough to keep a workforce motivated these days, even when business VoIP is in place. Between the overall changing face of that workforce--sometimes colleagues can work together for years without seeing each others' faces--and a difficult economy leaving everyone on edge, it's difficult to get the point across without terrifying the employees. But there are five critical points to master in terms of giving feedback that will help in just about any sized organization.

First, start out by being positive, a recent blog post from Nextiva reveals. It never helps to start off on the wrong foot, no matter what side of the discussion you are referring to, so beginning on a positive note can often help to defuse tension and make what's coming a lot easier to swallow.

Second, remember to avoid mixed messages. If there's a problem with performance or attitude or even something as simple as an issue of professionalism, it's best to come right out and say it. Start with the positive first, of course since there's usually something good in just about everyone's performance on some front. Yet, be sure to get right to the heart of the matter as quickly as decorum permits. Interestingly, it's advised to avoid the word "but" when using the positive feedback opening; using "but" is a sign to the other person that the sincerity of what's being said is at issue.

Next, closely consider the method. The best way to express positive feedback is to make sure the target understands how much the larger business appreciates the effort. For issues requiring negative feedback, express concern. While many employees have come to recognize the phrase "We're concerned about your (fill in the blank)" as a sign of bad news, it's still the best way to deliver issues for improvement.

Fourth, the so-called "compliment sandwich"—which is so widely used that the tactic actually once made it onto an episode of "Family Guy"—is still quite valid. Beginning with a positive point before delivering the negative point and then finishing off with a positive point helps keep the negative feedback from turning into full on criticism.

Finally, remember to separate the person from the behavior. This person isn't lazy; he or she just isn't working up to their potential. The better job a manager or person in authority can do keeping the person and the person's actions separate, the better chance that same manager has of getting the desired results.

Using the correct style of feedback for the situation is likely to make business better, but improving feedback really only helps in terms of internal operations. Using a VoIP system—like the kind offered by Nextiva--can help improve the business on the outside as well. It can not only improve on costs especially when things like long distance and international calling are considered, but can bring in a variety of useful features like toll-free number service which is actually included in many of Nextiva's offerings. That allows other businesses, vendors, and potential customers to easily get in touch with the firm, making for a positive improvement outside the organization as well.

Good feedback is a great way to improve performance and improve the work seen from employees. A workforce that believes the company appreciates their work is likely to do a better job and be more personally invested in the work completed. Delivering feedback the right way makes all the difference.

Edited by Jamie Epstein