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Language Foundation

upward feedback

Upward feedback is feedback in a workplace that employees give to managers, especially their own managers, about those managers’ performance, behaviour, or leadership.

In plain English

It is the kind of workplace feedback that goes from employees to a manager rather than the other way round. It is about how that manager is doing, acting, or leading, especially when the manager is the employee’s own.

In context

Here, it means feedback an employee gives about their manager’s performance, behaviour, or leadership.

Situation
Setting goals, receiving feedback, completing reviews, and discussing performance
What it communicates
names feedback employees give about their manager in the form.

Meaning limits

The term itself does not say whether the feedback is positive or negative, or what effect it will have.

Examples

“During the review cycle, the analysts gave upward feedback to their manager about his communication and leadership.”

Core meaning

“Her upward feedback focused on how her manager handled meetings.”

In context

  • feedback Broader Term

    This is a specific kind of feedback in a workplace setting.

  • downward feedback Contrast

    This differs in direction, because it goes from managers to employees rather than from employees to managers.