What to Do About Non-takers
Some people are not eager to talk about
themselves and are uncomfortable when it comes to expressing ideas and feelings.
Others are afraid that if they reveal what they do, they might be replaced or
transferred. Some people may be reluctant to give feedback for cultural
reasons. For people in many cultures it is considered rude to disagree with or
“talk back” to someone in a higher status position. This cultural
perspective will lead some people to be less forthcoming with feedback.
People who are not talkative often respond
with a series of “Yes or No” answers. It can drive you crazy. Or it
can lead you to believe that everything is clear when, if fact, there may be confusion or
problems.
Yet, it might be very important to get
feedback from such people, especially when you give instructions about how to do complete
a task. You need to know if they understood what you had to say.
As a manager, it is part of your job to obtain
information from your employees for a large variety of reasons. These
“probes” can help you minimize the “Yes or No” answers and help make
your employees more feedback responsive: