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When feedback falls short
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How is your 2025 coming along? Hope you are off to a great start! Yesterday, I wrapped up a coaching call with one of my clients, and I wanted to share a few insights that might resonate with you—especially if you’ve ever been left scratching your head over unclear feedback. My client asked for feedback from someone senior, only to receive unclear comments. Unsurprisingly, this felt confusing and disappointing. Here’s the reality: not all feedback is created equal. Some people simply struggle to give constructive, actionable advice—even those we are supposed to know more. And here's the key takeaway: If the feedback you receive doesn’t help you grow, don’t let it derail you. Instead, seek out mentors or peers who can offer clear, specific suggestions. And if you’re the one giving feedback, remember to be as concrete and supportive as possible. And remember this golden rule about feedback. Always ask more people for feedback. If 9 out of 10 people are saying the same thing, then there is a point out there. 2. Expectations vs. Reality I can see that my client was hurt because my client had looked up to this person, and their unclear feedback felt like a letdown. We’ve all been there—it’s tough when someone you expect to help doesn’t meet your expectations. Here’s the reality: people are human. They might be dealing with their issues or simply not know how to communicate effectively. And here's the key takeaway: Instead of letting someone’s shortcomings demotivate you, focus on what you can control—your growth. Surround yourself with those who truly want to help you improve, and remember that feedback is often a reflection of the giver, not the receiver. And remember this rule my mentor told me a while ago. If the feedback makes sense, go all in and implement it. If it does not make sense, cheerfully ignore it. If you’ve recently received feedback that did not make sense or faced a similar situation, I’d love to hear how you handled it. Feel free to hit reply and share your story—or let me know if you have any comment. As always, I appreciate your attention, and thanks for being awesome! |
PublicSpeakKing
Learn something every week about public speaking, book writing or personal development. Join 1500+ creatives and professionals who receive my action packed yet entertaining newsletter.
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