What makes feedback so vital for performance growth?

Feedback isn’t just a leadership buzzword—it’s the lifeblood of personal and team performance. Whether you’re leading a department or collaborating on a project, your ability to give and receive feedback directly impacts how well you and your team can grow, adapt, and succeed.

Why Feedback Matters More Than Ever

Feedback is foundational to engagement. It provides the clarity people need to perform with confidence and direction. Without it, teams are left guessing, and individual performance can stall. Done well, feedback enables course correction, builds trust, and accelerates growth—both for the giver and the receiver.

But here’s the challenge: most of us were never formally taught how to give feedback effectively. It’s not a skill typically taught in school or even in many corporate training programs. Chances are, you’ve learned through trial and error—maybe more error than you’d like to admit.

That’s okay. There’s always room to improve, and the benefits are worth the effort.

The Role of Self-Awareness in Feedback

Start by asking yourself a simple question: How skilled am I at giving and receiving feedback today—and where do I want to be?

Gaining clarity on this helps you close the gap between intention and impact. One key area to explore is how your personality style influences your feedback habits. Tools like Everything DiSC can offer powerful insight here. For example, your natural tendencies might make you more direct—or more reserved—when it comes to offering feedback. Understanding those tendencies is step one. Step two? Learning how to stretch beyond them to meet others where they are.

Feedback Is a Two-Way Skill

It’s not just about giving feedback—receiving it is just as crucial. That’s where many leaders struggle. If you shut down or get defensive when receiving feedback, you’re sending a strong message about how safe it is for others to speak up. This doesn’t just limit your growth—it can stifle the entire team’s performance.

Creating a culture of feedback means modeling openness, inviting perspective, and practicing humility. When leaders do this consistently, it signals that feedback isn’t criticism—it’s collaboration.

A Tool for Trust and Transformation

At its core, feedback builds trust. And trust is what turns a group of individuals into a high-performing team. Whether you’re leading a performance review or having a hallway conversation, the way you approach feedback shapes how others perceive your leadership.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being intentional.

Ready to Improve? Start Practicing.

If you’re serious about becoming a stronger leader, start making feedback part of your regular routine. Invite it. Offer it. Practice it. And don’t worry if it feels awkward at first—growth often does.

Want support? Consider working with a coach or taking an assessment like Everything DiSC to explore your feedback style in more depth. These tools can help you tailor your approach and develop a feedback style that works for you and your team.

Until next time, keep learning and growing.