The true value of the "feedback"

On a previous occasion we emphasize communication as human activity in nature, since it is the best place man from birth. Also discuss the feedback, or feedback-as the basis of the process by which individuals acquire, share and create knowledge. We have noticed that often the feedback is no more than a notion, not only at college students, but even among professionals who work with management and / or the area of ​​communications.

Conceptually, the feedback is a return, is a response through which the collected information, comments, suggestions, after having delivered a message or take some action. This in general terms and from the point of view of administration, since the feedback is a term used in other fields such as cybernetics, mechanics, electrical engineering, among others.

Source

Who used the term first-to-management communication connotation to which we refer, was Norbert Wiener, American mathematician who is considered the father of cybernetics. In 1948 he published his book "Cybernetics or control and communication in animals and machines" and coins the feedback from a cybernetic vision.

Wiener worked during World War II Armed Forces of the United States in a project which aimed to guide anti-aircraft artillery automatically through the use of radar. Specifically, Wiener was the task of predicting the path of the bomber and her properly direct the firing of the batteries, by correction to be based on differences between estimated and actual trajectory, ie process innovations.

As a result of the discoveries made in this project Wiener science brings to the concepts of feedback, or feedback, in Spanish, as well as amount of information. Thus, the mathematician becomes a precursor to the "Theory of Communication" and is also mentioned for their contributions to cognitive psychology.

Limited vision

When it comes to issues of administration, management and communication, feedback is often used word wide and constantly, but the idea of ​​what that includes is extremely limited and takes the value and enjoyment of the process involves feedback.

Remember that communication is a two way process and even multidirectional allows the enrichment of all involved, it places the messages conveyed in an intermediate step prior to an improved outcome, agreed and accepted by the participants. In this sense, the feedback does not lead to a response from the other party (receiver of the message), but is just beginning the process feedback.

Appropriate approach

If you get a message sender, the receiver receives and sends a response, we can not say that there was feedback. This response has to be processed and used to correct, improve and / or strengthen the action that prompted the creation of the message. Without the use of response, no feedback, the feedback is completed after the actual use of the data received. An example applied to business field:

A supervisor, area manager, has a habit of meeting with their staff every Monday first thing in long sessions of "planning and review" of what was done in the week. One by one, members of the area share details of the work done, only interrupted by the request for clarification and / or questions from the boss. Finally, the supervisor sets the priorities in the tasks of the week to start. The character feels very happy because he believes that his team works closely with all involved and know how to communicate with his people.

The above may be known and is a classic case of mismanagement, because valuable time is lost in a process that will enable better results. The members of a team, "accountability" of their work week, you can only build them to worry about doing "something else" and thus expose the next meeting, merely take orders from the boss without giving his personal contribution. In short, they behave like robots.

With half the time consumed, whether members of the exposed area situations that prevent them from carrying out its work properly or think about the processes that are right for best results, and, most importantly, the supervisor takes into consideration every of information received, and applied, it is here that there is a feedback process, it is only there when there is feedback.

The next time you meet with your staff, not weakens, retroaliméntense.

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* Article published in the newspaper "El Mundo" (Caracas, Venezuela), Monday November 9, 2009, pg. 23