In this week’s article, we are looking at the importance of feedback and one major factor which is impacting this at the moment…
Ghosting! There is an increasing prevalence of ghosting in the workplace. This concept has evolved from being ghosted in a romantic relationship. Research shows ghosting is now widespread in the workplace.
In the dating world, ghosting is an expression used when someone suddenly cuts all ties and communication with the person they’ve been seeing. They have broken off the relationship without giving any feedback to the other party. It has a very similar meaning in the workplace; you’re cutting off communication with the person you have been dealing with, whether that is a candidate, colleague, supplier or supervisor etc, without giving any reason or explanation for your behaviour. Whatever the scenario, someone is avoiding speaking with someone else because they do not want to deal with the situation face to face. They are avoiding giving feedback.
- The Recruiter Indeed survey published in 2021 found 46% of job seekers did not show up for a scheduled interview
- Career expert Zippia, say companies who invest in regular employee feedback have 14.9% lower turnover rates than organisations where employee do not receive feedback
- Indeed also identified that 77% of job seekers had been ghosted by prospect employers
Our needs as individuals for constant feedback provides us with an opportunity to improve. Whether we actively seek it or not, the need for it exists and is important in the workplace.
“We all need people who will give us feedback; that’s how we improve”
Bill Gates
Think of a time where you have been totally cut off by either a colleague, candidate, supplier, manager or supervisor. How did you feel? What was the impact of the silent treatment they gave you?
To understand why ghosting in the workplace exists, we have to recognise why we may hesitate and fail to give timely feedback. Perhaps it is because:
- it’s just a pesky salesperson, they’ll get the hint eventually
- the other person might get really upset or angry!
- it’s an easy way out
- the message is just too difficult to deliver
- convenience
- the person will reject the message
- you’re too busy and just because you can
- a fear of being challenged
- a fear of hurting someone’s feelings
- the time/place to deliver the feedback has passed
The pandemic has accelerated this as an issue in the workplace, given our lack of face-to-face contact with people. But, by understanding our own barriers to giving feedback, we can overcome the difficulties we have as individuals in delivering feedback messages appropriately and of course, being seen to ghost others. Likewise, by understanding how we can develop through receiving feedback, allows us to understand the importance of receiving feedback. In the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.
If you are interested in learning more about the gift of giving and receiving feedback, contact the team at Emphasis Ltd for full details of training and development courses.
By Rachel Wilde
