What are the benefits and drawbacks of using anonymous feedback tools for meetings?

Meetings are essential for collaboration, communication, and decision-making in any organization. But how do you know if your meetings are effective, engaging, and inclusive? One way to gather feedback from your participants is to use anonymous feedback tools, such as online surveys, polls, or apps. These tools allow people to share their opinions, suggestions, and concerns without revealing their identities or fearing repercussions. However, anonymous feedback tools also have some drawbacks that you should consider before using them. In this article, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks of using anonymous feedback tools for meetings and offer some tips on how to use them wisely.

1 Benefits of anonymous feedback

Anonymous feedback tools can help you improve your meetings in several ways. First, they can increase the participation and engagement of your attendees, especially those who are shy, introverted, or from diverse backgrounds. By allowing them to express themselves freely and anonymously, you can create a more open and inclusive meeting culture. Second, they can provide you with honest and constructive feedback that can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your meeting agenda, format, content, and facilitation. By analyzing the feedback, you can adjust your meeting goals, methods, and outcomes accordingly. Third, they can foster a culture of feedback and learning in your organization, where people are encouraged to share their views, learn from each other, and improve their performance.

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James Jorasch

Founder Model Meetings // Science House // 780 Patents
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When was the last time you received truly candid feedback on your meeting facilitation skills? For many people, the answer may be 'never.' Why is candid feedback so rare? Because people generally worry that negative feedback will hurt the other person, or that that it will jeopardize the relationship. The upside to candid feedback is a potential improvement to the meeting, but that may not happen if the feedback is ignored. The downside, however, is perceived as outweighing the upside. As a result, most meeting participants will tell the facilitator that they are doing a good job. Anonymous feedback opens a door to revealing what is in the heads of meeting participants, without the perceived negative consequences.

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2 Drawbacks of anonymous feedback

Anonymous feedback tools also have some limitations and challenges that you should be aware of. First, they can reduce the accountability and responsibility of your participants, as they can hide behind their anonymity and avoid giving specific or actionable feedback. This can also lead to abuse or misuse of the tools, such as giving false, irrelevant, or malicious feedback that can harm the meeting quality or the morale of the team. Second, they can create a disconnect or a mistrust between you and your participants, as you may not know who gave the feedback or why they gave it. This can make it harder for you to follow up, clarify, or address the feedback in a meaningful way. Third, they can overwhelm you with too much or too little feedback, depending on the design and implementation of the tools. If you ask too many or too vague questions, you may receive a lot of feedback that is hard to sort, analyze, or act on. If you ask too few or too specific questions, you may receive too little feedback that does not capture the full picture or the nuances of the meeting.

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3 Tips for using anonymous feedback tools

If you decide to use anonymous feedback tools for your meetings, here are some tips to make the most of them. First, define the purpose and scope of the feedback. What do you want to learn from the feedback? How will you use it to improve your meetings? How will you communicate the results and actions to your participants? Second, choose the right tool and method for your feedback. Depending on your meeting size, type, and frequency, you may opt for different tools and methods, such as online surveys, polls, apps, or chatbots. Make sure the tool is easy to use, secure, and reliable. Third, design and ask clear and relevant questions. Avoid asking too many or too vague questions that can confuse or bore your participants. Focus on the key aspects of the meeting that you want to evaluate or improve, such as the agenda, the content, the facilitation, or the outcomes. Use a mix of open-ended and closed-ended questions to capture both quantitative and qualitative feedback. Fourth, analyze and act on the feedback. Review the feedback carefully and look for patterns, trends, or insights. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your meeting and prioritize the areas that need improvement. Implement the changes or actions that you derived from the feedback and monitor their impact. Fifth, share and acknowledge the feedback. Thank your participants for their feedback and let them know how you used it to improve your meetings. Share the results and actions with them and invite them to give more feedback in the future.

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James Jorasch

Founder Model Meetings // Science House // 780 Patents
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The most productive system for providing candid feedback that I have experienced was at a Toastmasters meeting. After each speech was given, participants were asked to identify a good things about the speech and something that could be improved. This was written on a small piece of paper, and the papers were gathered up and handed over to the speaker. The process was quick, the feedback was given in the context of helping the speaker to improve, and it was easy to understand. Electronic corporate systems that I have seen often made those providing the feedback nervous. Who has access to the feedback? Is it really anonymous? Due to the uncertainty of electronic feedback, some people lower the level of candor, watering down the value.

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4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the benefits and drawbacks of using anonymous feedback tools for meetings?

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1 Benefits of anonymous feedback

2 Drawbacks of anonymous feedback

3 Tips for using anonymous feedback tools

4 Here’s what else to consider

Organizing Meetings

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