I am very grateful with Mr. Zakaria Mohamad Nor (Pak Zak) for kindly sharing his constructive feedback to my little story titled “A moderator is crucial at discussion acting as the bridge between panelists & audience to ensure an engaging session” as published by newswav.com on Tuesday 5 May, 2026. (https://newswav.com/A2605_kT2Xd3?s=A_Vt6lxcS&language-en) Pak Zak is alumni of the Asian Institute of Management & Harvard Business School.
Pak Zak, former Senior Manager of LNG Trade Division with ExxonMobil, had articulate, and permit me to quote “The moderator plays an important role to keep the forums running smoothly, oversees and regulate the interactions, ensuring rules are followed , discussions remain civil, maintaining a positive and healthy environment, knowledge of the topic to answers when it adds value, handling conflicts, active listener, mediating discussions etc. He can make a difference between event that is mediocre, or one that is exciting, engaging and productive for both audience and panelists. A real mammoth task.”
I welcome and value Pak Zak's feedback because it is the crucial, final component of the communication process that validates understanding, measures effectiveness, and enables our two-way interaction. It ensures my story was received correctly, allows for clarification, and strengthens our relationships by demonstrating that the receiver's input is valued. Without such positive feedback, the impact of my story remains incomplete, inefficient & not useful.
As management educator, I believe feedback transforms communication from a one-way transmission into a dialogue, allowing for a continuous exchange of ideas. It helps gauge the success of the communication and allows the sender to adjust their message if it was unclear. Providing constructive feedback shows respect and fosters trust between individuals or within teams. In my classroom, feedback identifies areas for improvement to motivate the students.
For feedback to be useful, it should be specific & actionable by stating it clearly and constructively incorporating positive elements to encourage growth.
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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