Feedback is the exchange of data about the status of a system. In team building, feedback is about understanding how a failure of one part might affect the rest of the system.

In a company or a team everyone is part of a system. Shuffling information around in this system is critical and an effective feedback is the lifeblood of the organization. This is the exchange of information that lets the team’s needs to be fine-tuned, updated, and redirected, as necessary. Without feedback, people are in the dark and they have no way of knowing how their work is impacting the rest of the system.

Constructive criticism is an effective feedback that helps others to correct their behaviour and optimises the resources of the system. Most people may initially feel guilty of criticising. A great way to overcome this is to understand that your intention is only to improve the team and you are not there to make people feel bad about themselves.

Of course, in contrast with constructive criticism, you should also take advantage of praise. Praise reinforces members’ behaviours and guides them forward.