The Art of Receiving Feedback: Turning Criticism Into Growth
Leadership Explored - Episode 8
In the world of leadership, feedback is a tool for growth. But let’s face it: receiving feedback isn’t always easy. Whether it’s praise, coaching, or evaluation, our emotional reactions can get in the way of truly benefiting from the information being shared.
In Episode 8 of Leadership Explored, Ed Schaefer and Andy Siegmund discuss how to navigate the often uncomfortable process of receiving feedback, offering practical strategies and mindset shifts that turn those tough conversations into opportunities for growth.
Key Takeaways from Episode 8:
Feedback as Opportunity: Feedback isn’t an attack, it’s a chance to listen, grow, and even change someone’s mind. Ed and Andy discuss how to shift our mindset from defensiveness to curiosity.
Understanding Emotional Triggers: Feeling defensive or anxious when receiving feedback is normal—but how we react is crucial. Ed and Andy dive into the common emotional triggers that feedback brings up, such as identity and relationship triggers, and how we can manage them.
Practical Steps for Receiving Feedback: From pausing before responding to clarifying intent, we break down actionable steps that can help us navigate feedback in the moment.
Building Your Feedback Muscle: Just like any other leadership skill, receiving feedback is something that gets easier the more we practice it. Ed and Andy share how to build your feedback muscle over time, making it part of your regular routine.
The Role of Follow-Up: Feedback isn’t just about receiving it—it’s about acting on it. This episode discusses the importance of following up on feedback, ensuring it leads to lasting improvement.
The Importance of Receiving Feedback Well
While giving feedback is important, receiving it well might be the more challenging skill to develop. Feedback—especially constructive criticism—can trigger deep emotional responses. But learning to receive it with an open mind is essential for growth. It’s not about agreeing with everything, but about staying open to hearing it, reflecting on it, and deciding how to move forward.
As leaders, we’re often asked to make decisions under pressure, and our reactions to feedback can significantly influence our growth. Practicing how to receive feedback, and then acting on it, helps create a culture of openness, trust, and continual improvement within teams and organizations.
A Final Thought
Ultimately, feedback is one of the most powerful tools for leadership growth. But it’s not the feedback itself that’s important—it’s how we receive it that makes all the difference. So the next time someone offers you feedback, consider this: Can I use this moment to grow? And if the feedback stings a little, remember that growth often comes from the discomfort.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here to hear more practical advice on how to turn feedback into growth, build your "feedback muscle," and improve your leadership journey.