Administrative Leadership 1. Creating a Culture of Feedback

Hanna Holmquist, South Dakota State University
Rebecca Bott-Knutson, South Dakota State University

An important part of dialogue is understanding how to give and receive feedback. However, it can be
difficult to establish feedback channels and communicate feedback, particularly across perceived levels of power such as students and faculty or staff and supervisors. This can lead to a lack of dialogue between students and Honors staff when students don’t have a means to provide feedback on their experience—or don’t feel comfortable giving honest feedback to staff and faculty who are above them in the power hierarchy. Similar issues can arise among Honors staff and supervisors without a culture and practice of giving and receiving both positive and constructive feedback.

This presentation will provide background information and research on feedback and power dynamics. Then, we will discuss approaches to giving and receiving feedback that have been implemented among staff members within the Fishback Honors College and share how the culture of feedback has helped to create trusting relationships among the Honors Dean and staff members. We will also discuss ways to solicit feedback from students and how that feedback can be incorporated into decision making. For example, the Dean’s Student Advisory Council was created to be the student voice in our college. Students from different majors and years in school come together regularly with the Honors Dean to provide feedback and advice about strategic planning and other college decisions.

Our goal is that participants leave this session with a better understanding of the interplay between feedback and power dynamics as well as strategies to create open and effective feedback channels at their own institutions.