Quick Actions
- Make it clear that anonymous feedback is allowed and welcomed.
- Don’t ask for extra personal details unless they are truly needed.
- If you use an online form, don’t require people to log in.
- Explain what information will be kept private, and what might be shared.
- Tell people how the feedback will be used, and who will see it.
Long-term Actions
- Let people share feedback without having to share their name or email publicly. For some people, being anonymous helps them feel safer and more comfortable being honest.
- Make sure anonymous feedback is treated seriously and not dismissed.
More Information
- UK – British Standards Institution (BSI)'s Feedback Policy shows how a standards organization handles anonymous feedback in a formal policy setting.
- The government of Canada's descriptions of a feedback process explains how an organization could receive and handle feedback, including telling people how feedback will be used and who will see it.
- Project Management Institute (PMI)'s standards development case study is a practical example of anonymous commenting in standards development, showing how anonymous public feedback can be collected and managed at scale.
Related Actions
- Provide more than one way to give feedback
- Establish continuous feedback loops
- Allow outside participation in committee meetings