Why Receiving Feedback Hurts—and How to Use It Anyway
“Can I give you some feedback?”
For most of us, those six words land like a gut punch.
Even when we want to improve, feedback can feel like a personal attack. Our heart rate spikes. Our stomach tightens. Our inner critic starts spinning stories.
And that’s before we even hear the feedback.
In Episode 8 of Leadership Explored (dropping Tuesday, July 1), we’re turning the lens inward—looking at what it really takes to receive feedback in a way that leads to growth, not shutdown.
Because it’s not just about staying calm.
It’s about understanding your emotional reactions.
It’s about separating identity from behavior.
It’s about building the kind of resilience that actually makes you a better leader.
In this episode, we explore:
• Why receiving feedback is often harder than giving it
• The emotional triggers that hijack your response (truth, relationship, identity)
• A step-by-step framework for staying present and grounded when feedback stings
• How to decide which feedback to act on—and which to let go
• Long-term strategies to build your “feedback muscle” over time
This isn’t a list of clichés. We’ve been on the receiving end of feedback that stung—and didn’t always handle it well. This conversation is honest, practical, and full of lessons we wish we’d learned earlier.
"The moment you feel defensive, that’s your signal to switch into curiosity instead of shutting down."
– Ed Schaefer
If you’re someone who wants to lead with self-awareness, empathy, and purpose—but still finds yourself bracing when criticism comes your way—this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen to Episode 8 – Receiving Feedback
Releases Tuesday, July 1 at: www.leadershipexploredpod.com
Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and YouTube.
✉️ Got feedback about feedback? Hit reply or email us at leadershipexplored@gmail.com.
💬 What’s one piece of feedback that stuck with you—good or bad?
Drop it in the comments. Let’s talk about what we do with the feedback we’re given.