Posted on Aug 24, 2015
If the commander asked for feedback would you give it to him/her?
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Recently my commander released Staff Sergeant promotion results in a different manner than we normally do. Many airman near me were talking about how they disliked this new way. I myself had the same sentiments and for good cause. During the release, the commander asked us to let him know if we liked doing promotions this way. I took two days to type up a simple, yet respectful email explaining my opinion and giving three alternate solutions to achieve what he stated his goals were for his approach. The next week I was talking to another airman about this and he was adamant that I shouldn't have done that. When I asked why he response was "you just don't do that". My email was in no way disrespectful or full of complaining. I received a reply from my commander that stated "Understood. Thank you for your honest feedback." Would you have told the commander your opinion or would you have kept silent? Was I wrong to be honest?
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Evaluations
Commander
Evaluations Commander
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 119
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Depends on who's asking. There are some folks who rhetorically open the door for feedback but really don't want it and won't take it even into consideration. For those folks, don't waste your time. In other cases, they're completely open and interested. My 2* senior rater asked me for a sustain and improve for him during my OER counseling. I had no concern about sharing that with him. It just depends on the person.
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Yes, regardless of who it is, if someone wants feedback give it to them. It's not the feedback that may get but you ability to explain it.
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TSgt Melissa Post Well done on not only providing feedback (as was requested) but also by doing it in a respectful and timely manner. Bonus points for providing alternate solutions!
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When I ask for an opinion from my peers and subordinates, I want an honest answer....respectfully of course. Some changes people make are not for the better and how would one know if they did not get the feedback. If commanders or senior people are strong enough to ask the question, they need to be strong enough to get an honest answer. A good leader at any rank will always give good advice or feedback to their senior ranks. It is up to them to analyze the feed back and to adjust as needed.
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Yep but is the commander in a position to change anything. If it's policy, probably not except take it up the chain of command.
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Something is wrong, my app posted to the wrong answer.... Go figure technology....
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The immediate answer to that is absolutely YES. Feedback helps determine the overall climate of an organization and let us know what are we doing well and were we need to improve. Providing feedback is never the issue, is what is done with the feedback once given. Some leaders see feedback as something negative, a means for soldiers to complain about their leaders ability to lead. Good leaders use feedback to improve and learn that they maybe a better way of doing things, bad leaders see it as a tool to categorize individuals who may challenge their mistakes. These days soldiers don't always provide an honest feedback; because they believe and often proven true, that there will be nothing positive that will come out of given their feedback and that some Commanders a not flexible and willing to learn from subordinates.
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SFC Norman G. Mayers
Continue to provide feedback and provide possible solutions; remember that feedback with out recommended courses of action will sometimes be seen as complains and as such dismissed. Not every leader has the maturity to accept feedback and recommendations as a solution to a problem identified. Don't get discourage, continue to do as you have in a professional manner. It's not only about their leadership; but, it's also about you growing as a leader.
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I can't imagine that you could have done anything better. I would always advise a service member or employee that has a problem to address it professionally, with details, and to recommend realistic solutions. That's what you did. Bravo.
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Suspended Profile
The other airman is an idiot. That's exactly what you should do. How would your commander know it wasn't going over well if you didn't type that letter? Just as much as it's your commander's duty to make your work (or, in this case, promotion) meaningful and as pain-free as possible for you, it's your duty to provide feedback to your commander that is constructive toward making future decisions.
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