3.1 Giving virtual feedback

When delivering feedback to remote working colleagues, there are some additional aspects to consider.

• Context. When a team member is away from the face-to-face office environment, they don’t have the opportunity to pick up on anecdotal or informal feedback by the coffee machine or over lunch. This could impact on their ability to understand the context of your feedback.
• Regularity. If you can create an environment within your remote team, where both positive and constructive feedback is regularly shared between all members, then context and clarity will be easier to find.
• Choice of platform. Delivering feedback by phone or email, without the additional non-verbal cues from your facial expression or gestures, could lead to misunderstandings and negativity. Give the feedback recipient an opportunity to choose the way they receive it, e.g. in writing, via a video call etc.