How do I discuss the results with my team?

Some surveys have already been completed, and the strengths and challenges in the team have emerged. But how do you, as the team leader, best discuss these results with the team? Here are a few tips from us.

1. Make the results visible

Ideally, employees should be able to see the comments and survey results in their respective areas of work. We recommend setting the visibility settings so that they can see everything within their own team. It's also beneficial to allow visibility for other departments and areas. Transparency is crucial here to facilitate an exchange of ideas and feedback, both from the employees themselves and from the managers.

Who can see certain results and comments?

2. Clarify in advance how the results are to be discussed

Ideally, you should clarify with your team in advance how you want to discuss the results with each other. In this way, you determine with your team when and how you will discuss the results and how you, as a manager, will react to the results in teamecho. The answers to the questions then form the basis for your EchoTalks.

3. + 4. EchoTalks - results discussions firmly anchored in meetings

For the discussion of results we suggest so-called EchoTalks. We call EchoTalks fixed sections in meetings, in which the results in teamecho are presented by the manager and discussed in the team.

Before the EchoTalk, think about what exactly you want to communicate to your team. The following points should definitely not be missing:

• Thanks & Appreciation. Giving feedback requires time and active engagement with a topic. Not everyone has ever learned or practiced giving feedback well. So show gratitude and appreciation for your team's effort - and whether or not you're happy with the content of the feedback.
• Your perspective. The visible feedback in the tool represents your team's perception. This may or may not match your perception. Therefore, tell your team how you perceive the individual points or in which points you agree and in which points you disagree.
• Questions, additions, discussion. Communication is not always clear and sufficient. Therefore, plan time for mutual queries. It should also be possible to make additions or to discuss important topics or future expectations together in an honest manner.
• Outlook. Always end the EchoTalk with a clear outlook on what will happen with or on the basis of the survey results and comments. If there is a need for action and a concrete solution, communicate how and in what timeframe actions will be implemented. If there is a need for action, but the solution is missing, make it clear what the process of finding a solution will look like. There is not always a need for action; if you do not plan to take action, communicate that as well.

5. Write a summary comment in teamecho

A good practice is to summarize the feedback in teamecho in a collective comment. In this comment, you briefly summarize the strengths and challenges that have surfaced through the last survey (or the last 2 surveys) from your perspective. Don't forget to also be as specific as possible about the next steps you will take to preserve strengths and address challenges!

6. Communicate the need for action

It has been proven valuable to communicate any need for action and, most importantly, the timeframe in which changes will occur. It is not always crucial for something to happen quickly, but rather that something does happen and a timeframe is provided, even if it spans several months.