In Nigerian tech, feedback isn’t just a KPI or a checkbox in performance reviews. It’s how teams grow, products improve, and careers evolve. Whether you’re a frontend developer, UI/UX designer, product manager, digital marketer, data analyst, or just breaking into tech, you’ll give or get feedback at some point. And done well, feedback becomes your secret growth fuel. Done poorly, it fuels frustration, ego, and burnout instead.
In this guide, we’ll break down practical, real‑world ways to give and receive feedback with clarity, empathy, and respect, while keeping it human and relevant to the African hustle.
1. Feedback in Tech: It’s Not Just for Devs
Mistake we often make? Believing feedback lives only in code reviews. Not true.
Every tech role gives and receives feedback:
- A UI designer critiques a product spec.
- A marketer emails suggestions on a campaign draft.
- A PM challenges a timeline or scope.
- An analyst responds to terrible data structure.
- A junior asking “why” about your sprint goal.
Feedback isn’t optional. It’s how successful tech teams function, across all roles.
2. Why Good Feedback Is Essential (Especially in Nigeria)
In a market with unstable power (NEPA), spotty internet, and remote teams, from Lagos to Accra, we can’t afford miscommunication or sloppy assumptions.
Good feedback:
- ✅ Builds alignment when you’re not in the same room
- ✅ Helps fix root issues (not just symptoms)
- ✅ Builds trust and lowers friction
- ✅ Mentors faster, even at scale
- ✅ Builds soft skills: something we highlighted in our previous blog post about Nigerian tech professionals
Without feedback culture, things break: features misinterpret user needs, marketing misses tone, product drift happens, trust drops.
3. Guidelines: How to Give (and Get) Feedback the Right Way
In tech, feedback done well follows a few simple, but powerful rules:
A. Feedback Is Not Attack
Always focus on the work, not the person.
Say: “The messaging in slide 3 is unclear.”
Avoid: “You always write confusing messages.”
Why? Ego kills clarity. We’re here to level up, not tear down.
B. Be Specific
Generic feedback doesn’t help: “This is weak.” Instead: “Try aligning the CTA with the user’s goal on this screen.”
Why? Specifics help the person improve, and you build credibility too.
C. Balance the Energy
Every critique should come with recognition.
“This component looks sharp. Could we tweak the heading length here?”
Positive feedback seeds trust and makes it safer to accept criticism.
D. Ask Before Advising
Before diving in with suggestions, ask: “Can I offer a thought?” or “Would you like a second look?”
Simple courtesy can change how feedback is received.
E. Learn to Listen (Without Explaining Immediately)
Even if the feedback feels wrong or harsh, listen first.
Often the best reply is: “Thanks for the feedback. I’ll think it over.”
4. Real-Life Examples (Inspired by Nigerian Tech Teams)
Example 1: Code Review
Manager: “The code’s functional, but I think this logic could be simplified into a separate helper. It’d improve both readability and testability.”
Good practice: Offer reasoning (“for long-term maintainability”), suggest action, and avoid blame.
Example 2: Design Feedback
Designer: “Great job! The layout feels clean. Could we add some whitespace above the “Buy” CTA so it stands out more after scrolling?”
Result: Designer gets kudos + clear tweak to apply.
Example 3: Product/Feature Feedback
PM: “Your feature spec is solid, but we may need to consider how this aligns with our mobile-first roadmap. Can we review it in our sprint planning call?”
Approach: Clarity, respect, and alignment, not confrontation.
5. Feedback as a Growth Tool in Your Career
If you’re new to tech or switching careers, mastering feedback helps you fast-track skill growth. It connects skill to context and speed to improvement. At Odurinde.com, we emphasize feedback skills, not just technical skills.
You can check out this piece: Why Soft Skills Are Hard Skills in Tech — A Nigerian tech perspective. Learning feedback is learning how to grow with teams, not just solo.
6. Conclusion: Feedback Culture = Team Growth
In African tech teams, feedback isn’t just technical. It’s cultural. It’s relational. It’s how we build together across borders, disciplines, and time zones, even when working from home, customer sites, offices, or hot Lagos traffic post-9-to-5.
Feedback done well helps people learn, teams perform, and careers grow, across every role.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How do you give feedback on someone’s work in tech?
Start with respect and empathy. Be specific, actionable, and solution-oriented. Focus on the output, not the person.
Q2: How can beginners receive tech feedback gracefully?
First, listen without defending. Ask clarifying questions. Thank the person giving feedback. Then plan a small follow-up action or update.
Q3: Why is feedback culture important in Nigerian tech teams?
Unclear communication and decision-making slow things down. Feedback helps remote and in-office teams stay aligned, avoid rework, and build trust.
Q4: How can I build my feedback skills while learning tech?
Practice with classmates, participate in code or design reviews, ask peers for critique, and offer your own suggestions, even on marketing drafts or slide decks.
Q5: Is feedback only for technical work?
No. Feedback is critical in design, product spec writing, marketing campaigns, data insights, cybersecurity reviews, and more. It’s a cross-functional skill.
Resources & How to Take the Next Step
Explore more educational content and practical courses for tech learners in Africa:
- Our courses page: Odurinde.com/courses
- Web Development Course: Odurinde.com/course/web-development/
- Freelancing vs Full-Time?: Which path is right for you?
- Remote Web Dev Jobs for Nigerians: Unlocking success in remote roles
Conclusion
Feedback isn’t a menu item or optional extra, it’s the engine for real growth. Whether you’re coding, designing, marketing, analyzing, or just starting your switch into tech, learning how to give and receive feedback well will elevate not just your work, but your career.
At Odurinde.com, we’re here to help you level up, not just in tech, but in how you grow with others.