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Maintenance, Repair & Operations

When Your Feedback Falls on Deaf Ears

Jan. 7, 2020

What to do when you've given important feedback and seen no results from it.

There's an old joke about the company suggestion box. Inside the box is a wastebasket. Sometimes, it can feel like your input to management gets treated that way.

If you've given important feedback and seen no results from it, you have several options, for example:

Joke that management doesn't listen.
Actively grouse about management's apparent deafness.
Keep providing the same feedback until they give in.
Talk with the appropriate manager about your feedback, asking several questions to seek clarity on the issue.

Of the four options just mentioned, only the last one is good. The others are likely to poison your career. The discussion with the manager should start by asking about the status of your feedback.

Also, perhaps

Management is considering it and hasn't determined what to do.
Your feedback failed to consider issues that management has a better handle on.
The way you framed and presented your arguments caused misunderstanding.

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.