Contractors are not mind readers. It’d be wonderful if they were. It would certainly save you some time and energy. But they aren’t. You have to not only let your contractor know what you need and what’s expected, you also have to let them know how they did. It’s called giving feedback and it’s an essential.
Feedback helps your contractor provide the best service possible. Most contractors want to make sure you, as their client, are happy. Feedback lets them know what worked, what isn’t working, and what can be changed. Feedback also helps you learn more about your contractor’s strengths and weaknesses. It also showcases flaws in your systems and it improves communication.
What is Feedback?
Feedback is a communication that tells your contractor or service provider how they did. It can be something as simple, as “thanks for the work, everything looks great.” Or it can be more in depth. Generally, when you’re first working with a new contractor it’s a good idea to provide them with a bit more feedback than, “it looks great.” Let them know what you liked about the work so they can be sure to repeat it.
Giving In-Depth Feedback – How to Be Critical Without Being a Jerk
If the project or task wasn’t done like you hoped it would be and there are some things that need to be fixed, it’s an opportunity to create a relationship with your contractor and to build a strong partnership. The first step is to pay attention to what was done well and met your requirements and needs. The second step is to outline what needs to be fixed and why it needs to be fixed.
For example, if a graphic designer just delivered a logo to you, saying “I hate it” isn’t productive and it won’t get you the results you desire. What do you like about the logo and what don’t you like and why don’t you like it? This is the information that helps a contractor provide better results.
Always be polite, professional, and respectful. Show your appreciation for their efforts. If you need to have portions of the project redone, thank them in advance for making the changes. Wrap it up by asking if the contractor has any questions. This is a great way to make sure your feedback was received and understood.
Feedback isn’t always s comfortable to give, however it’s important. Giving feedback to your contractors helps ensure you are communicating your needs effectively. It helps your contractor give you the best service possible.
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