Stop Resisting Feedback—Your Shot of Fearless Culture #397
Where change agents find their weekly dose of culture insights and exercises, one topic at a time.
The feedback that hurts the most?
That’s the one you need most.
I teach this. I’ve created tools for it. But I also struggle with it.
When fifteen beta readers reviewed my manuscript, I found myself resisting some feedback (the exact behavior I tell others to avoid).
It’s natural to feel uncomfortable. But resisting feedback? It’s a choice.
I worked hard to overcome this feeling. I told my wife, “If something hurts, bothers me, or even seems useless, I need to sit with it.”
So that’s what I did. I stopped defending myself and started listening.
For three weeks, I carefully reviewed all the comments. I focused on the big picture, making sense of what seemed off-topic. And editing, editing, editing.
The contradictions were still there. What one reader loved, another found unnecessary. Being open-minded is important, but you also need to separate signal from noise.
The feedback you’re resisting? That’s precisely what deserves your attention.
Explore this week's newsletter:
My latest article → The Feedback You Resist Is The One You Need Most
Practical tips to receive feedback
Stay fearless, my friend.
Gustavo
In Case You Missed It
Ask Your Team This
What feedback do you tend to dismiss, and why?
⚠️ Try This
Examine Your Resistance
Next time you feel defensive when receiving feedback, try these three steps:
Step 1 – Pause before responding. Write down your immediate reaction and feelings: Attacked? Misunderstood? Angry?
Step 2 – Ask clarifying questions. “Can you give me a specific example?” “Why do you see it that way?” “What am I missing?”
Step 3 – Find a bit of truth. Even feedback that seems unfair or wrong has something useful in it. Ask yourself: “If even 10% of this is true, what part is? What can I learn from it?”
You don’t need to agree with or use all the feedback you receive, but try to understand what feedback makes you defensive.
🍦 Feed Your Curiosity
Using neuroscience to make feedback feel better
Clumsy feedback is a poorly wrapped gift
6 tips for receiving feedback well
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Designing a culture that drives the behaviors you actually need
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Gustavo Razzetti
CEO, Fearless Culture