Starting point: the need to embed feedback in everyday work

In Veritas, an occupational pension company, the need to develop feedback dialogue was identified when staff wanted more feedback on their own work in staff surveys and the concept of peer feedback was unfamiliar. This led to a joint development effort, which resulted in the creation of a Feedback Dialogue room table to guide Veritas' feedback culture. The aim is to make giving and receiving feedback a natural part of everyday work without any intermediaries.

"Developing a feedback culture has been a development area for us for a couple of years, and it was chosen as the theme for the staff day. We thought about how to make the topic as concrete as possible for everyone," say Helleka Salonen and Tiia Helenius, HR experts at Veritas.

Solution: a tailored SmoothTeam simulation for the whole organisation

Veritas chose SmoothTeam because it offered a lightweight technical implementation, engaged participants and smoothly guided the discussion to the desired topics. The simulations engaged the participants so well that additional questions from the facilitator were not always needed.

"The great thing about this is that the technical implementation is light, but the tool helps to guide the discussion. We put the pre-employees in the role of gamemasters, and all they needed was a short training," say Helleka and Tiia.

The simulation was tailored around the theme of feedback culture and was conducted as a "one-off" for all staff as part of a staff day. The simulation was preceded by a one-hour keynote speech on feedback culture, after which staff were able to tune into the topic and reflect on their own role as feedback providers.

The teams were deliberately mixed so that participants could also talk to those who were less familiar.

"There were people who hadn't met each other very often and we were able to share different perspectives and ideas," say Tiia and Helleka.

The best of simulation

"The best thing about the simulation was that it inspired people to actively participate in the discussion, which led to new perspectives on the issue," say Tiia and Helleka.

The simulation was not just a tool, it created a framework where people were encouraged to share, listen and see things from new angles.

Results: active debate, new perspectives and shared experience

The simulation generated lively discussions and new insights:

• Diverse perspectives: Mixed teams brought people from different departments together, increasing understanding and opening up new ways of thinking.
• Concrete content: The questions were sufficiently concrete and guided the discussion effectively.

• Visuality and real time: Participants could see each other's answers immediately, which provoked reactions and deepened the discussion.

• The data to be exploited: The synthesis report provided management with valuable information on common and divergent views.

• Easy deployment: The technical implementation was easy and the process proceeded smoothly and on schedule.

• A shared experience: All staff had the same experience at once, which strengthened the team spirit of the organisation.
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Since the simulation, giving and receiving feedback has been more on the minds of staff, and the debate on the subject continues. Barriers to giving feedback have started to be removed and the courage to give feedback directly to colleagues has increased.

"We recommend SmoothTeam to everyone! It offers different options for different situations, and it's so easy to set up that it doesn't require much preparation. The whole process went smoothly and on time. The simulation provided a framework for discussions, brought out new perspectives and strengthened cooperation and psychological safety in the organisation."

Tiia Helenius and Helleka Salonen

The occupational pension company Veritas HR experts