Why Most Feedback Fails — And How Real Leaders Can Do It Better
Let’s talk about one of the most powerful tools a leader has—and one of the most misunderstood:
🎯 Feedback.
We’ve all seen it done badly.
Maybe we’ve done it badly ourselves.
It’s vague. It’s late. It’s sugarcoated.
Or worse—it shows up once a year in a performance review when it’s already too late to do anything about it.
But here’s the truth:
“Feedback isn’t about pointing out what happened. It’s about helping someone improve going forward.” – Ed Schaefer
In this week’s episode of Leadership Explored, we go deep on what it actually takes to give helpful, effective, growth-oriented feedback—and how most leaders get it wrong.
🎧 Listen to Episode 7 – Giving Feedback: How to Do It Right
Inside the episode, we explore:
💡 Why timing is everything—and what “too late” actually costs
💡 The difference between coaching and teaching in feedback
💡 How to structure your feedback without over-explaining
💡 Why positive feedback isn’t fluff—it’s a leadership strategy
💡 How to create a feedback culture that doesn’t just fix problems but builds trust
Plus: real stories, hard lessons, and a breakdown of what to say (and what not to say) the next time you need to give someone feedback.
If you lead people, manage teams, or mentor others—this episode will help you give feedback that actually makes a difference.
And stay tuned... next episode, we’ll explore what’s arguably even harder: how to receive feedback well.
👇 Have a feedback story—good or bad? We’d love to hear it in the comments.
Thanks for exploring leadership with us.
Until next time, lead with purpose.
—
🧠 New to Leadership Explored?
We’re a podcast exploring what it means to lead in today’s evolving workplace—through honest conversations, practical tools, and real-world experiences.
Hosted by Ed Schaefer and Andy Siegmund.
New episodes every other Tuesday.
Subscribe on Substack or listen wherever you get your podcasts → www.leadershipexploredpod.com