Construction Law

Dealing with Negative Feedback in the Construction Industry Part 3 featured image

Dealing with Negative Feedback in the Construction Industry Part 3

There’s no hiding from negative feedback. When you are contracted to do a job, the owner has the right to tell you what they think about your work. Whether these comments are positive or negative depends on the work you’ve committed and the finished product itself. If you doubt yourself, the owner will lose faith in your work.

In parts one and two of this four-part series, the Nashville contractor attorneys at Cotney Construction Law have been discussing the merits of negative feedback and why the ability to cope with criticism is vital in the construction industry. If your contracting business needs aggressive legal representation tailored specifically to construction professionals, consult a Nashville contractor attorney.

Integrate Feedback Into Your Company’s Values

When you normalize feedback, whether negative or positive, it becomes less daunting and more easily integrated into the fabric of your contracting business. Essentially, an efficient workplace will balance feedback across all team members to ensure that everyone is cognizant of their deficiencies and working toward a reachable solution. Remember, everyone wants to hear that they’re doing good, but what is even more valuable is gaining the insight to do even better. Another effective strategy is to encourage your workers to give feedback to their colleagues. If you can foster accountability by normalizing feedback, your team will work faster and produce better results. However, you must be willing to accept feedback from your superiors, too.

Strengthen Workplace Relationships

People often feel like they have become the prey when they are confronted with negative feedback. Fortunately, this can be avoided when we strengthen workplace relationships on all levels. Relationships between workers, suppliers, and contractors tend to gel more efficiently when you have already established strong bonds between team members. For instance, if you know of two workers who have a close relationship, consider using one of them to deliver your message without intimidating the other. On that same note, consider consulting with a worker you trust to give you feedback on your work as a contractor, and proactively seek out feedback from owners to minimize the chance of a conflict arising. We will explore more techniques for strengthening workplace relationships in part four.

Utilize Meaningful Feedback

Feedback without purpose will compromise your team’s trust and dampen their spirits. If you set the standard for how to disseminate and address feedback, your team will be keen to follow your lead. Ask open-ended questions that allow your team to consider the answer without feeling like they’re being guided toward a negative outcome. For example, you can ask simple questions such as:

  • What’s working?
  • What’s not working?
  • What do you need to succeed?
  • How can I help you?

If you would like to speak with a Nashville contractor attorney, please contact us today.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.