Feedback Culture
Definition: Feedback culture is the shared organizational habit of giving, receiving, and responding to feedback as a regular, constructive, and respectful part of teamwork.
Core Characteristics
- Regularity: Feedback is frequent and normalized.
- Bidirectionality: It flows up, down, and laterally across the team.
- Constructiveness: Focused on growth, not blame.
- Psychological safety: Team members feel safe to speak honestly.
- Follow-through: Feedback results in actions or reflective change.
Importance in Healthcare
- Encourages reporting of concerns and near-misses.
- Supports professional growth across all roles.
- Builds a culture of continuous learning.
- Reduces frustration and burnout through proactive communication.
Example
A medical resident receives respectful suggestions after presenting a case. In turn, they feel confident to offer feedback on team workflows. This strengthens performance and mutual respect.