When it comes to gathering feedback, there are two ways to go about it—anonymous and non-anonymous. While there are pros and cons to both approaches, anonymous feedback has become increasingly popular in recent years. With the rise of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, many people are hesitant to give any type of feedback that could be misconstrued or taken out of context. As a result, anonymous feedback allows people to speak their minds without fear of reprisal. In fact, studies have shown that anonymous feedback can be more accurate and helpful than non-anonymous feedback. Click here to learn more about gathering anonymous feedback with VoiceSifter.
Let's take a look at some of the benefits of anonymous feedback so you can decide if it's right for your organization.
The Benefits of Anonymous Feedback
1. It's More Honest
People are more likely to give honest feedback when they know their name won't be attached to it. This is especially true if the person giving the feedback knows the recipient. For example, an employee may be hesitant to give constructive criticism to their boss if they know their name will be attached to it. Giving them the opportunity to share their feedback anonymously increases the chances they will be honest in what they say.
2. It's More Detailed
Since people are more likely to give honest feedback when it's anonymous, they're also more likely to provide detailed information. This is valuable because you can use that information to improve your company. Additionally, detailed feedback can help you identify patterns that you may not have been aware of.
3. It Helps People Feel Safe
When people feel like they can freely express themselves without retribution, they're more likely to open up and share important information. This is especially true in cases where someone may be reluctant to speak up for fear of retaliation. For example, an employee may not feel comfortable reporting harassment if they think their name will be attached to the complaint. However, if the complaint is anonymous, they'll be more likely to feel safe about coming forward.
Are you worried that gathering anonymous feedback might prevent you from having two-way conversations with your employees? VoiceSifter’s anonymous text line makes it possible for you to keep the feedback anonymous while also letting you reply and communicate with the employee in real-time. Click here to learn more about using VoiceSifter in your company.
Anonymous feedback helps employees be more honest, give more detail, and feel safer. While it might be beneficial to use both anonymous and non-anonymous feedback methods in your organization, we highly recommend giving your employees the opportunity to give feedback anonymously.
