Feedback Is Essential - But It's Rarely Easy

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝘀 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹—𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘆

Why is feedback so hard to get right?

We prepare carefully. We pay attention to performance. We plan what we’ll say. We gear up for the reaction…

And then sometimes we bail.

We default to vague comments. Or the conversation takes an unexpected turn—someone gets defensive or upset—and suddenly we’re wondering what went wrong.

Was it our judgment? Our approach? Something about the moment?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁?

Even when we 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 well, giving and receiving feedback can feel like a minefield. In fact, a recent poll we ran asked whether it’s harder to give or receive feedback—and the responses so far are evenly split.

That tells us something: it’s hard on both sides.

So we avoid it. And with that silence, we miss out on opportunities to learn, grow, and build trust.

But silence doesn’t solve anything.

If we want aligned teams, real engagement, and continuous growth, we have to invite honesty and clarity—and that starts with rethinking what feedback really is.

𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸

We intentionally started this post by playing into the stereotype: feedback = criticism.

But it’s more than that. In fact, that mindset is part of the problem.

✅ Feedback isn’t just what’s wrong. It’s also recognizing what’s right. It’s reinforcing what’s working, and offering coaching for growth.

✅ Feedback is everyday. Don’t wait for the annual review—or until a problem snowballs. Create a rhythm of conversations that guide performance and support learning.

✅ Feedback is personal. The more you know your team, the better you’ll deliver it. A shy team member might shrink from public praise. A hands-on learner might need examples, not theory. Emotional intelligence matters here.

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝘁 𝗮 𝗧𝘄𝗼-𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁

Feedback works best when it’s a conversation—not a performance review.

💬 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸—𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁. Ask your team how 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 doing, too. Are you clear in your coaching? Are you making space for people to grow? What can 𝘺𝘰𝘶 do better?

🧠 𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀. Sometimes the real issue isn’t what you think it is. Ask questions. Listen deeply. You may uncover barriers or blind spots that change the direction of the conversation—and the outcome.

🤝 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. Great feedback moments don’t always solve the problem immediately—but they move things forward. Together.

𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀

Your feedback only counts if it makes things better.

The best feedback moments build trust. They develop thinking. They strengthen relationships.

They’re less about being right—and more about being real.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻:

How do you work to create a culture where feedback flows more freely—up, down, and across the team?