Got feedback?

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Garbarini II
  • 821st Contingency Response Squadron

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Have you heard about this new thing called innovation? It seems to be quite the buzzword lately.

I have been around our great Air Force for over 25 years and the concept of innovation is not new; it has just been rebranded. What is new is how we innovate and what we innovate. The Travis Phoenix Spark Lab is a good example. They are working on numerous projects including 3-D printing and Augmented Reality.

So what can we innovate if we do not know how to develop apps or print 3-D widgets? Why not innovate feedback?

I am not talking about rewriting the Airman Comprehensive Assessment form. I am talking about innovating the art of feedback. Let’s start with spending our squadron innovation funds. In our organization, we set up a completely transparent process. First, we emailed everyone in the squadron to come up with ideas. Then, we set a date and time where Airmen could come in and brief their ideas to leadership. This opportunity was also available to everyone in the squadron.

We had six presentations and everyone in the room was able to give feedback using an app. The app allowed each person to provide feedback anonymously. We also had one person monitoring the site so we were able to provide near-instant feedback about each idea and how the presenter did. In less than an hour, we approved five of the six ideas that were briefed and utilized all of our innovation funds. We have since used the app to compile feedback on numerous occasions.

Some people may wonder, “How do you pitch an idea to a squadron, get instant buy-in and move forward with an idea quickly?” One way is through a 10X Event, which my boss introduced us to after he learned about it at the Next Jump Leadership Academy.

A 10X Event works like this: first, we asked unit members to come up with ideas about things they want to change. During our event, we received three ideas. Each presenter was given five minutes to present their idea. When they were done, a panel of three judges provided each presenter with feedback. Then, using an app, each member of the unit got to rate each idea using a score of one through four. They were also encouraged to provide feedback about the idea and presentation. We received quick buy-in from the unit and we moved forward with all three ideas. We have used the 10X Event in other areas, to include our last Wingman Day.

We have heard so many amazing stories about what happens in the unit this way and it is always fun to watch feedback in action. Maybe these ideas are not as innovative as Augmented Reality, but watching Airmen grow and develop via positive feedback is priceless.