The Power of Feedback

Leadership, at its core, is about impact. Yet, how can you measure your influence without knowing how others experience it? In my twenty years of coaching executives, I've found that many high-potential leaders remain stuck in the same patterns for years. Not because they lack ability, but because they operate in a feedback vacuum. Too often, we convince ourselves that our intentions are perfectly aligned with our actions, while remaining blind to the gap between how we think we lead and how others experience our leadership.

The ability to solicit, receive, and implement feedback is the foundation of leadership growth. Think of the most transformative moments in your career. I'd bet many came after someone told you something about yourself that you couldn't see. The honest truth is that we all have blind spots, areas where our self-perception doesn't match reality. These blind spots don't just hinder our development; they can derail our entire leadership journey.

What separates extraordinary leaders from merely good ones isn't natural talent or intelligence; it's their capacity for self-awareness and adaptation.

Leadership effectiveness multiplies when you understand exactly how your words and actions land with others.

True leadership means fostering environments where open communication thrives and continuous improvement becomes a shared value.

Mastering feedback isn't about achieving perfection. It's about committing to continuous evolution. The leaders who make the greatest impact aren't those who never make mistakes, but those who turn those mistakes into stepping stones for growth.

The Courage to See Yourself Clearly

Seeking honest feedback requires courage.

It means willingly exposing yourself to perspectives that might challenge your self-image or reveal uncomfortable truths. Yet this vulnerability isn't a weakness. It's the foundation of authentic leadership strength. The most influential leaders I've worked with share this quality: they consistently prioritise growth over comfort, truth over ego protection. They understand that you cannot improve what you refuse to see, and you cannot lead others effectively until you can lead yourself honestly.

Seeking Feedback: The Path to Leadership Excellence

Leadership is a continuous process of growth and refinement. At the core of this growth lies feedback, the mirror that reflects our impact on others. Without it, we navigate blindly, unaware of how our actions and decisions affect those around us.

Think of feedback as the wind beneath a kite's flight. Too much, and the kite crashes; too little, and it never soars. The right amount, properly channelled, lifts the kite to extraordinary heights. Your leadership potential works the same way. Feedback provides the necessary lift and direction.

Soliciting feedback requires courage. It means opening yourself to criticism and vulnerability. Many leaders avoid this discomfort, preferring the safety of assumption over the clarity of truth. Yet, effective leaders know that genuine growth happens only when they step beyond this comfort zone and actively seek input from those they lead.

The most valuable feedback often comes from unexpected sources. Your team members witness your leadership from angles you cannot see. Their perspectives offer invaluable insights into your blind spots, areas where your self-perception differs from reality. By actively seeking their input, you gain a 360-degree view of your leadership impact.

When requesting feedback, specificity matters. Rather than asking, "How am I doing?" try targeted questions like, "How effective was my communication during yesterday's project review?" or "What could I have done differently when mediating the conflict between departments?" Specific questions yield actionable insights.

Receiving feedback gracefully is as crucial as seeking it. When someone offers criticism, resist the natural urge to defend or explain. Instead, listen fully, ask clarifying questions, and thank them for their honesty. Remember that the discomfort you feel is the sensation of growth. Embrace it rather than avoid it.

Sometimes feedback arrives in silence, in what remains unsaid. Notice when team members hesitate, when enthusiasm wanes, or when participation drops. These subtle signals often communicate feedback more honestly than formal reviews.

The strongest leaders don't just accept feedback. They actively hunt it down, recognising that their blind spots are the greatest threat to their effectiveness.