Why Receiving Feedback Feels So Personal—and What Great Leaders Do Differently
“Can I give you some feedback?”
We’ve all heard it. And if we’re honest, most of us have felt our stomach drop in response—even when we asked for it.
In our latest episode of Leadership Explored, we unpack one of the most emotionally loaded (and least practiced) leadership skills: receiving feedback.
While giving feedback gets all the attention, receiving it well is the real leadership flex. It requires emotional regulation, humility, and the ability to stay curious in the face of discomfort. That’s not easy—and that’s exactly why it matters.
🎧 Episode 8 – Receiving Feedback: How to Grow from Criticism
Now streaming: www.leadershipexploredpod.com
In this episode, we explore:
– Why receiving feedback can feel like a personal attack
– How to spot emotional triggers and stay grounded
– The three types of feedback: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation
– A practical framework for responding to feedback without spiraling
– Why high performers build their “feedback muscle” over time
– How curiosity—not agreement—is the real measure of feedback maturity
One key idea from the episode:
“You don’t have to agree with feedback—but you do need to be open enough to hear it.”
Why this episode matters:
If you want to grow as a leader, you have to be able to hear hard things—especially when they’re not perfectly delivered. That doesn’t mean tolerating abuse or unfairness, but it does mean learning to find the insight inside the discomfort.
Feedback that stings might be feedback you need. And how you respond in that moment says more about your leadership than almost anything else.
🔁 Reflect with us:
What’s one piece of feedback that changed how you show up as a leader?
Reply to this email or drop a comment—we’d love to hear your story.
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