Whenever you search on Google or ask ChatGPT for something, you get an answer in a snap. An unintended result of this technology is that we expect immediate feedback from people, too. A lack of feedback kills productivity.
In 2008, tech scholar Nicholas Carr raised a provocative question in a cover story for The Atlantic: “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” He argued that the ease of online searching and the distractions of web browsing were possibly limiting our capacity to concentrate. However, in 2010, research by Pew debunks this, showing that Google and, by extension, instant access to knowledge, doesn’t make us stupid. Instead, it enhances our ability to solve problems quickly, reinforcing our expectation for timely information.
Perhaps this is a roundabout way to point out that employees thrive on feedback. They need it to grow, adjust, and feel engaged. They need it quickly so they can adjust course immediately. And so, silence, whether from managers or leadership, isn’t golden.
Lack of Feedback Kills Productivity
Here’s how a lack of feedback quietly sabotages your workplace and the bottom line:
1. Employees Waste Time Second-Guessing Themselves
Gallup reports that only 26% of employees strongly agree that the feedback they receive helps them do better work. Without clear direction, employees hesitate. They overthink. They check and recheck their work instead of moving forward with confidence. That hesitation slows everything down and your business pays the price.
2. Engagement Plummets
Feedback isn’t just about performance. It’s about connection – 32% of employees say they have to wait three months or more to receive feedback. That’s three months of wondering, not knowing, and feeling like their work exists in a vacuum. Imagine if your Google search took three months to return feedback – you’d have an anxiety attack! When people feel disconnected, they disengage. Hello, quiet quitting, absenteeism, and eventual turnover.
3. Mistakes Snowball Without Course Correction
Silence doesn’t just mean missed opportunities. It means repeated mistakes. Without feedback, errors compound, inefficiencies grow, and customer satisfaction plummets. Employees can’t fix what they don’t know is broken. Real-time feedback isn’t micromanaging; it’s smart leadership when done with kindness and a focus on success.
4. Top Performers Walk Away
High performers want to grow. A lack of feedback signals stagnation. Research from LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report shows that 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development, and feedback is a crucial part of that. If they’re not getting it, they’ll find a company that provides it.
5. Culture Crumbles When People Feel Invisible
Feedback isn’t just about correcting mistakes. It’s also about recognizing achievements. Employees who don’t feel valued disengage, and their dissatisfaction spreads. A culture of silence fosters resentment, and before you know it, your workplace is filled with people who feel ignored and undervalued.
4 Ways to Build a Culture of Feedback
If you’re in HR or leadership you’re often the first to witness the damage caused by a lack of feedback. The disengaged employees, the turnover spikes, the performance struggles, the culture problems. And while it’s frustrating to see, the good news is that you have the power to change it. Here’s how:
- Train managers on effective feedback techniques. Many avoid it because they don’t know how to do it well or they’re under the impression giving feedback is hard or negative. Once they learn to flip the script to one of coaching for success they’re more likely to give ongoing feedback as they’re more comfortable with the positive spin.
- Implement real-time feedback tools. Don’t wait for annual reviews. Use platforms that encourage ongoing dialogue and tell managers to meet with their people weekly.
- Recognize wins frequently. Employees need to hear what they’re doing well, not just what they need to fix.
- Join our free webinar, “Speak Up, Step Up: Fostering a Workplace Where Feedback Fuels Change,” on April 2nd at 10 AM PT. Earn 1 SHRM PDC while learning practical strategies to transform your workplace.
Feedback isn’t just a productivity tool. It’s the foundation of a thriving, engaged workforce. If silence has been the status quo in your workplace, it’s time to break it.
Because in the workplace, feedback is gold.
