Feedback that works: The do’s and don’ts of feedback
Do you know what is worse than receiving negative feedback? It’s receiving it after so long that you are unable to do anything to improve the situation. One of the toughest challenges of giving feedback to your video production partner is to get the timing right.
Hi, I’m Ravneet Oberoi, founder, French Fries Films, and today, I’m here to tell you how timely and effective feedback can be the difference between mediocrity and excellence in your video.
Video production is a collaborative effort, which means that as the Client, you are an essential part of the creative process put in behind a successful video. Your feedback is key to evaluating and improving the video to achieve your stated goals. So, when you hesitate in providing meaningful feedback in a timely manner, it ultimately leads to a situation where it is extremely difficult to make any changes to the video without blowing budgets or deadlines, or both.
Here are a few things to keep in mind while giving your video production partner constructive feedback.
Spend the necessary time fine-tuning the script before giving a go-ahead to the production team. You don’t like the script? Stop right there and tell your video production partner what works and what doesn't. Share your vision about the outcome. Immediate feedback is always, always preferable to feedback given after production has already started, or even worse when it’s completed. Always do follow-ups to grant key elements to get adequate performance. Feedback is a powerful tool and it helps you to achieve the desired results. outline the method of giving feedback, balance the critical feedback, and positive feedback step by step. make a frame of mind for feedback delivery. Mark the flaws, errors, and negative emotions of the video. Don't make a feedback sandwich, give a proper action plan through written or verbal feedback.
As in any other job, the feedback process plays a crucial role in video production as well. It is a creative & learning process with in-built steps integrated into it and ideally, the client gets an opportunity to review the work done at each of these steps. At this stage, the ‘how’ becomes important. Give your video production partner goal-oriented feedback, which will help them help you. In fact, a little positive feedback can be quite constructive in the long run, as it gives them an idea of what the Client is actually looking for.
Now, no matter how careful or precise you have been about your expectations throughout your working relationship, chances are that the final edit presented to you may still require some revisions. So, if you don’t like it, say it. Be precise and avoid giving generic feedback like, ‘something is missing but I don’t know what it is’, ‘I don’t like the whole vibe’, ‘could you offer an alternative version?’. Detail your concerns and give pointed insights on how to fix them. If you can, share specific examples of what exactly you’re looking for. If you’re unsure about something, gather your team and ask them for their feedback. Compile the points and then discuss them with the production team for satisfying results.
In the end, even if all goes well, there is still a possibility that your video might not grab your target audience’s attention. Identify what could have gone wrong and have a discussion with your video production partner within 12 hrs of release. They might come up with a quick and effective solution for the problem and if not, at the very least, they will take steps to avoid the same issue in the production of the next video.
Lastly, don’t be shy about giving your opinions early and often to your video production partner, you are the client after all. Strike the hammer while it's hot. They are working for you and when you don’t give them constructive feedback in a timely manner, you are the one who loses.
Always remember, the key to making a successful video is honest and straightforward communication. Put your cards on the table from day one and communicate your wants, your needs, your goals, and your expectations, and throughout the timeline of the project.
If you found this video helpful, do share it with your colleagues so the next time they take up a video production project, they have an easier time getting what they desire.
This is Ravneet Oberoi, Signing off, See you in my next blog post.
