Constructive feedback an essential “ingredient” for effective teamwork

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One of the most crucial elements for building a strong team is feedback. You can help each individual learn and progress by encouraging team members to give each appreciation when things go well and pointing out how things could be done differently. As each individual gets better at what they do, the whole team becomes better. 

     I. What is constructive feedback?

Constructive feedback is a powerful tool for fostering a positive work atmosphere, increasing productivity, engagement, and improving performance. It has a favourable impact on communication and team member engagement. 

In essence, constructive feedback differs from regular feedback in the intent and delivery of the advice. Constructive feedback comes from a place of support, seeking to help the receiver “construct” themselves to become better or grow in some way.

     II. Why is constructive feedback so important? 

By applying constructive feedback practices, not only employees but also managers can encourage, support and redirect each other’s input to ensure the quality of a certain output. Let’s see some benefits of giving constructive feedback: 

  • Enhances performance and assists with professional growth 
  • Improves relationships among team members 
  • Clarifies expectations  
  • Improves employee morale 

      III. 5 steps to giving constructive feedback 

Regardless of role, level or industry, at some point in your career, it is likely you will need to know how to give constructive feedback in the workplace. As most people work in groups, being able to provide constructive feedback is a valuable skill. Here are some of the top ways to give constructive feedback in a productive and respectful way.  

        1. Choose the right time and place for feedback  

The first thing to consider when planning a meeting to give feedback is the location. Small bits of praise and appreciation can be shared among the wider team. However, criticism that is shared in front of an employee’s peers will be shameful and embarrassing. Criticism is much better delivered in a one-to-one meeting and it is best to give feedback as soon as possible while the reference points are still clear.  

         2. Define the purpose of giving feedback  

For example, if the purpose of the feedback is to improve an employee/team member’s behaviour or performance, then it is important to have a clear understanding of points to discuss and potential solutions to offer.  

          3. Feedback content  

The content should be focused on the work rather than the individual. If there is a specific action or problem that needs to be solved, then you can share how exactly it makes you and their colleagues feel. Be specific, give examples of where the person performed well and situations where it didn’t go well and use data or other sources to support the discussion.  

          4. Give suggestions for improvements  

The most important part of giving feedback should be working with employees/team membersto implement improvements. By sharing expectations such as improvements to working speed, accuracy, relationships with colleagues,  the individual can work towards a goal and be able to measure their acheivements.  

           5. Recap key points 

This is a good way to avoid there being any misunderstandings and it provides you with an opportunity to check that constructive feedback was received and understood.  

The “SKS” (Stop-Keep-Start) may be considered as the easiest constructive feedback method to use, especially for beginners. The following three questions should be asked before framing feedback statements to the recipient:  

  • What can I tell this person to stop doing? 
  • What should this person keep doing? 
  • What can I suggest that this person start doing? 

At NashTech, we always maintain a supportive working environment to nurture our employee’s development. We embrace everyone’s way of expressing themselves and facilitate them to thrive by supporting and giving feedback to each other. 

You can explore more skills and tips to be excel at work here. 

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How to wisely manage your time and boost productivity

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Each of us are granted equally with 24 hours a day and understanding how to make the most out of this time is essential to productivity, especially at work. Time management is more than merely cramming every possible responsibility into your daily schedule but rather figuring out techniques and strategies that allow you to tactfully allocate tasks throughout the day.  

By adopting the right time management method, it enables you to stay on pace and facilities the smart planning needed along the way to ensure that you do not get sidetracked from your initial focus. In fact, being organised in terms of your time lies at the core. Not only does effective time management skills result in better results at work, but it also has advantages outside of the office too. 

Why does time management matter?

In an in-depth workplace survey conducted by Atlassian, it has been pointed out that employees are constantly wasting their time on things that bring about little business value during working hours. Poor time management skills subject them to being drowned in email, stuck in dead-end meetings or easily distracted by non-work-related tasks. 

By spending too much time on tasks of little account, employees are inclined to overlook certain work that requires a higher level of concentration and prioritisation. This phenomenon will hinder employees from making any tangible progress on their important tasks, making it harder for them to move forward in any aspects of their career.  

Additionally, their productivity can take a serious hit if this pattern continues to perpetuate. The lack of effort in time management will greatly debilitate one’s productivity as well as impact the workflow of entire projects.  

Tips for effective time management

Below are some tips that you can start adopting to ensure that your time does not go to waste during working hours:  

      1. Focus on prioritised tasks  

Determining which tasks should receive more attention and efforts is imperative since we always want to put our best foot forward when we start our day. Sorting the most important items can help you see the big picture and avoid spending extra time on emails or unnecessary meetings. 

      2. Set attainable goals 

By setting goals that you know you can certainly achieve that day creates a sense of achievement and allows you to see that you are using your time wisely. This method can also greatly boost your productivity and morale at work, keeping your spirit up to go tackle other responsibilities. 

        3. Limit multi-tasking 

Multi-tasking seems tempting since it gives you a degree of busyness that is often associated with productivity, getting two things done in a time span of one. However, multi-tasking does not always work out the way you wanted it to. Most of the time, this form of working will lead to mixing things up or works that are perfunctorily finished.  

       4. Blot out distractions 

Try to put your phone and mailbox on silent when you are concentrating on a task or in a meeting. You might think it will take only two seconds to peek at your text message preview, but this action might lead to 30-minutes straight of scrolling aimlessly without getting anything done.  

       5. Set time limit to complete certain tasks   

Time blocking can help you gauge the time needed to finish a certain task so you can start planning ahead in the future. This method also enables you to be completely absorbed with the task and gives your colleagues a heads-up as to whether you are available during that time frame.  

        6. Take a break between tasks/sessions 

Taking a break between your tasks or meetings is of great importance in terms of maintaining stamina and focus throughout the day. Getting a coffee, drinking water or chatting with your colleagues can help take your mind off your problems for a while so you can revisit it with a brand-new perspective later on.  

 Explore more on how you can tackle burn out to stay ahead of the game here  

3 tips for saying “goodbye” to burnout at work

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Have you ever felt that you wanted to explode, unmotivated to get up and go to work in the morning or tired when entering the workplace? If yes, you may be suffering from burnout syndrome. Experts say other illnesses such as depression may be behind burnout, which affects both your physical and mental health. 

What is burnout syndrome? 

Simply put, burnout is a particular form of work-related stress which makes you feel exhausted in the workplace, reducing working productivity and inspiration.  

  1. Signs of suffering from burnout syndrome

There are some common signs that show you are suffering from burnout such as, lack of energy, negative emotions, feeling of isolation, losing motivation, etc. It will not disappear by itself and ignorance will make it worse.  

  1. Popular causes of “burnout mode”

Right after realising you are in the “burnout mode”, the first thing to do is work out where it is coming from. These are some popular causes: 

  • Unhealthy lifestyles or work-life imbalance 
  • An unachievable amount of tasks 
  • Poor time management 
  • An inactive workplace 

Although the pressure from burnout at work might bring problems and negative influences to our life, WHO has not recognised burnout as a disease but a psychological syndrome. So, what can you do to cope when“haunted” by burnout syndrome? 

Tips to overcome burnout 

1.Schedule your working day

Planning out your day might help you feel more energised while also keeping you motivated during a long day at work. Instead of generating a long list of tasks, focus on prioritising one to make you feel accomplished once you’ve completed it. 

2.Design an exercise and nutrition plan

“Exercises can help you control stress and anxiety and manage feelings of burnout.” – says Dr. Mysore, a physician at One Medical in New York. Having an exercise schedule with an additional eating plan is essential to build a strong body and healthy lifestyle, which helps boost your energy and morale for long working hours. Although exercise isn’t a cure-all for burnout, it will help you feel more balanced by managing your stress on a daily basis. 

3.Create relationships at workplace

If you have a good relationship with co-workers, it’s easier to ask them for help when you are struggling to manage your workload. Assistance between colleagues is completely normal when you work in a team that has close relationships with each other. Therefore, in a friendly, positive environment, the number of people experiencing burnout syndrome is much less than in a fiercely competitive one. 

How NashTech keeps employees away from burnout 

Anyone who is constantly exposed to a high-pressure environment is prone to “burnout”. At NashTech, employees are encouraged as much as possible to stay away from pressure and burnout with a dynamic culture and various activities. 

Meet – Connect – Share 

Joining corporate social responsibility events to give Nashers a break from the office and create stronger connections with each other. This not only provides our people opportunities to relax but also contribute meaningful activities for the community and create memorable moments together. 

Work-life balance with sports clubs 

It is great to be able to work in your dream job and enjoy your hobbies at the same time. At NashTech, there are many sports clubs and games established with the aim to release stress, enhance physical health for work-life balance and bring Nashers together. 

Flexible working: is this new working model here to stay?

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The fallout of Covid 19 has been felt by organisations around the globe, forcing changes to their operating models to keep up with the latest developments and retain top talent. These changes have propelled the proliferation of flexible working, requiring us to gain a more profound understanding of this model.  

Even before the pandemic struck, concerns had been raised about whether the widely accepted norm of a rigid 9-to-5 structure should still be considered best practice in most offices. Flexible working has been making its way into the day-to-day work life of those with greater responsibilities, obligations outside of work or who tend to perform better when not bound by certain hours.  

Flexible working has evolved rapidly over the past few years and the term covers a wide range of working patterns that differ from the usual arrangement. This article seeks to uncover the benefits that this new approach offers and examine whether flexible working is here to stay. 

Define and categorise flexible working 

Flexible working, sometimes referred to as agile or smart working, are terms used to denote the process of adapting new approaches to the current working scheme with the hope of creating a more flexible and reactive operating model.  

The practice enables enterprises to prioritise the wellbeing of their employees by allowing them to tailor their work schedule to meet their personal needs, while still maintaining productivity and commitment.  

Flexible working can be divided into three main categories which stipulates where, when and how one can work:  

         1. Flexible location working 

    • Working from home or remotely for part or all of the time
    • Working across offices
    • Hybrid workplace   

         2. Flexible working hours 

    • Compressed work days 
    • Flexible hours (which allows you to fit your working hours around agreed core times) 
    • Staggered hours (which allows you to start and finish your days at different times) 
    • Shift working  

          3. Flexible tasks

    • Job sharing  
    • Part-time work 

(Source: Flexible working – what is it – Citizens Advice)

What does flexible working bring to the table?

The process of experimenting with different types of working styles is essential for both employers and employees to figure out which approach(es) work best for them. Flexible working enables both parties to take a break from the ordinary working scheme which they might have been stifled by, in order to fuel a shift to an agile operating model for the entire business.  

      1. Employees

Flexible working certainly brings about a sense of autonomy and freedom to employees. It allows them to propose where, when and how they are would like to work and how these changes can help them perform better without having to worry about personal obligations.  

This approach gives employees a sense of control over their own time and how they should allocate it to each of their tasks. When employees can determine how they are going fulfill their responsibilities, it empowers them to be more proactive and productive since there are no constraints on how they should work.  

The frustration from the long commute during rush hours can also be alleviated. Evidently, this approach can also help cut employees some slack in terms of commuting time, as well as fuel costs and consumption.   

      2. Employers

By adopting a flexible working model, employers decide to entrust their employees with accountability over their own performance, implying that the organisation is receptive to the idea of an agile business model.  

This approach is a great means to boost employees’ morale and builds a culture of openness, as well as an employee friendly brand. Flexible working also enhances the employment process, since there is a pool of talented candidates out there who cannot fit into the 9 to 5 structure, so companies that are open to flexible working stay on top of their list.  

How NashTech promotes and executes its flexible working model

At NashTech, we prioritise the wellbeing of our employees and we always seek to build a flexible and open environment where our people can thrive.  

With thorough examination and consideration, NashTech has been putting the hybrid working model into practice with the hope to assist our employees when the pandemic hits or when they are dealing with personal issues.  

By setting up a lightweight office in Danang, we are seeking to reinforce our hybrid working scheme and facilitate the process of shifting to a more agile operating model. NashTech Danang marks a milestone in our efforts to alleviate the pressure of rigid working locations for our employees.  

Watch the Q&A session featuring NashTech’s Managing Director – Cuong Nguyen and NashTech’s Human Resources Director – Thanh Nguyen on our new lightweight office in Danang here.

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2 key factors to map out your career path

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Building a steady root before planning your career path

1. Finding your passion and setting goals 

Passion is like a charger that helps you to stay happy and productive. If you feel unclear about your future and don’t know how to start looking for a dream job, just take a step back and ask yourself these questions:

  • What do you usually love to do? 

The more you are passionate about your work, the stronger motivation you possess to overcome obstacles. If it’s not your favorite field, you will easily get bored and give up early. That’s why working in an area you are interested in is more effective than “just do it for the money”.

  • Where do you see yourself in the future and who do you want to be?

Coming up with both short-term and long-term goals will keep you busy and focused on improving relevant skills. It is important to identify yourself in the future, setting goals and listing out what you need to do to achieve them. This not only saves time but also helps you to clearly see your career roadmap and specific steps to progression. Also, it’s useful to try looking for inspiring people and see what they are doing achieve success. Below is our suggestion with the SMART framework which is the most popular “recipe” to set goals base on five elements (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based). 

NashTech Career path