Most Workplace Feedback Is Useless—Here’s How to Fix It
Leadership Explored — Episode 7 Recap & Reflection
🎧 Listen now at www.leadershipexploredpod.com
Why is giving feedback so hard—and why does it go so wrong, so often?
In Episode 7 of Leadership Explored, we dive into one of the trickiest parts of modern leadership: giving feedback in a way that’s actually helpful.
The truth? Most feedback isn’t feedback at all. It’s vague opinions. Delayed judgment. Or worse—it’s disguised performance management dropped at the most demoralizing time.
Here’s the thing:
👉 Feedback isn’t about pointing out what happened. It’s about helping someone improve going forward.
What Makes Feedback Actually Effective?
Ed and Andy break down four key elements in the episode:
✅ Ask for permission. Respect the other person’s readiness.
✅ Describe the behavior. Focus on what was observed—not assumptions or emotions.
✅ Explain the impact. Clarify why it matters to the team or the outcome.
✅ Leave space. Let the recipient decide how to act on it—and be available to support if they ask.
It’s a simple framework. But like most leadership tools, it requires practice, intention, and cultural support.
Feedback vs. Performance Reviews
One of the big takeaways from this episode is how much we conflate performance reviews with feedback. They're not the same.
Feedback should be frequent, timely, and built on trust. If it only shows up twice a year, it’s not feedback—it’s damage control.
We also talked about the danger of sugarcoating (“compliment sandwiches” don’t work), the difference between coaching and teaching when giving guidance, and how to build a workplace culture where feedback is a regular, welcome part of learning—not something to dread.
A Few Questions to Reflect On:
• When was the last time you gave someone feedback that helped them grow?
• Do you know how your team feels when they get feedback from you?
• Are you offering clarity… or just commentary?
🎧 Ready to Listen?
Episode 7 is available now on all major platforms and at www.leadershipexploredpod.com.
Next up: Receiving Feedback — Part 2, where we explore how to process feedback, handle it with confidence, and even push back when necessary.
Until then, keep leading with purpose.
– The Leadership Explored Team
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