Mastering the Art of Receiving Feedback: Key Leadership Skill for Growth

Being a good leader requires strong leadership skills, especially the ability to receive feedback. In fact, I believe receiving feedback is even more important than giving it. 👈

Most of us have been taught how to give feedback, often using techniques like the compliment sandwich to soften the blow of negative comments. But how many of us have been taught how to receive feedback effectively?

As a business and community leader, I’ve encountered feedback at inopportune times. For example, after a public presentation, someone expressed dissatisfaction with the care they received at my community health center. Rather than getting defensive, I thanked her for the feedback, apologized for her experience, and asked to discuss how we could improve. This approach diffused the situation and led to a productive conversation over coffee.

Here are the key lessons I’ve learned about receiving feedback, which I also teach in my leadership coaching programs:

1️⃣ Set Aside Your Ego: Negative feedback is rarely personal. Listen without feeling attacked. Focus on your personal growth.

2️⃣ Reflect and Grow: Once you’ve listened calmly, identify potential growth opportunities. Commit to learning from the feedback and be intentional about improvement.

3️⃣ Encourage Future Feedback: Genuinely thank the person for their feedback. Consistently apply steps 1 and 2 to foster a culture where people feel comfortable providing feedback.

Receiving feedback well and using it to grow is a learned skill. Keep practicing, even if you dislike hearing negative comments. The more feedback you accept, the more you’ll receive, and the faster you’ll develop and grow as a leader.