Many Leaders share with me that they want to feel more confident in their feedback conversations, both offering and receiving.
As a Leader, offering and receiving feedback is a vital part of building high-performing teams. Yet, many Leaders struggle with it—either avoiding tough conversations or responding defensively. The good news? You don’t have to be perfect; you just need to improve your Feedback Fitness to foster a culture of trust and growth.
Embracing feedback is one of the most powerful leadership tools you have. When you master it, you:
Build deeper trust and engagement within your team.
Gain valuable insights into how your leadership is perceived.
Create a culture where open, honest conversations drive performance.
Reflect on the last piece of feedback you received—what’s one step you can take to act on it?
Schedule a one-on-one meeting to invite feedback and show appreciation for your team’s insights.
Practice asking open-ended questions to encourage meaningful dialogue.
Feedback Fitness is the ability to confidently offer and receive feedback in a way that drives individual and team performance. It’s about moving beyond discomfort to embrace feedback as an essential leadership skill that fuels growth and resilience.
A Leader recently shared with me that he wants to change the way he responds to feedback. His old habit of responding immediately had caused some issues over the years. He would find the need to defend himself and not really listen to the core message. He felt that people were now reluctant to offer him feedback. Instead of reacting defensively, consider these responses to buy yourself some time and space to process the feedback:
"Thank you for sharing this. Can you provide an example to help me understand better?"
"That’s an interesting perspective. When have you noticed this before?"
"What suggestions do you have for how I can improve?"
Your curiosity will foster a culture of continuous learning and development.
Leadership starts with you. By embracing feedback with openness and curiosity, you pave the way for a more engaged and high-performing team. Stay present, listen actively, and make adjustments that reflect your commitment to growth.