How to get more Suggestions and Comments

Suggestions and Comments are very important, not only because of how valuable the contributions are, but also because they give clues about how people feel valued, listened to, and taken into consideration by the organization.

In order to have a good suggestion system, it is first necessary to clarify some concepts and assess how you can make your teams more engaged in this valuable section.

Having a good system starts with understanding the difference between suggestions and complaints.

Even though they are sometimes used interchangeably, these words have different meanings. Complaints are made as a passive reaction, while suggestions are made positively.

Most of the time, both suggest improvement, but with suggestions, it's perceived as an opportunity, and with complaints, it's seen as a problem.

Here is an example of both positions:

Complaint: There is always the same food in the employee dining room, and we are tired of eating the same five items every day."

Suggestion: It would be motivating for everyone if the employees' dining room offered a more varied and healthy menu."

Although both sentences refer to the same thing, they don't say the same thing.

What do you think is received with greater openness and willingness to resolve the issue?

Obviously the second, isn't it?