Most of us believe project management is an internal affair, but it’s more about clients. Discussing how to respond to negative feedback and providing best practices to collaborate more effectively with your clients enables your teams to deliver successful projects. Therefore, it should be encouraged at every stage of the process.
What is Feedback?
Before diving into why client feedback is such an essential part of the project management process, let’s talk about what feedback is.
Client feedback in project management is a conversation that should result in a clear next step toward their improvement. Constructive feedback helps project managers to fine-tune their team’s process to deliver the highest value for their clients. These valuable observation-based comments are encouraging and aim to support rather than criticise.
Why is Feedback Important?
What exactly is so great about feedback? A myriad of things! It plays a vital role in personal and professional growth, provides direction and motivation for your team, and gives your business a tried and tested route toward continuous improvement.
Why is Client Feedback so Important During a Project?
As we discussed above, client feedback provides direction and motivation for your team and pushes your team toward continuous improvement. Creating a feedback loop is an effortless way to become a better business without spending a dime.
Creative agencies might get scared of client feedback because of what it might be. “We don’t like it,” “Can we redo it,” or “It doesn’t meet the brief,” and the fear is understandable. It can feel like a massive setback because you must redo your work, especially if you are already polishing it off as the last step. Because of this, little to no choice in “Can we redo this?” it is better to seek client feedback at every stage of the process.
Taking the client in the loop will save you from the setback and make the client feel like they were part of the process and involved. From creativity and planning to wireframing, prototyping, and development, client feedback will address minor tweaks or significant issues rather than wholesale changes.
The benefits of asking for client feedback for each stage
- It will save you and your client time and money because you can quickly solve minor problems instead of spending hours making significant changes.
- It will reduce the risk of deadline revisions or last-minute overhauls because you have already made minor changes the client asks for.
- It will help your client understand the features so you can prioritise your tasks and resources accordingly.
- It will set practical expectations, a better understanding of limitations, and more realistic expectations on both sides.
Communication and collaboration are the keys to a good client relationship, and it’s essential to be straightforward to stay on the same page.
Looking for a digital marketing agency in London? Whether you are starting fresh or revamping your strategy, FBS Digital has you covered. Call FBS Digital at 0204 526 5195 or e-mail at hello@finchleybusiness.co.uk today!
