Feedback Massages
⏲ 1-minute read | last updated 1 week ago
Good feedback is like a good massage:
- In the moment a little painful, but after you feel better.
- It hurts if you haven’t gotten one recently.
The mistake I see other folks make the most with feedback is not being direct enough (or in our massage analogy, making sure you’re pushing hard enough). They deliver something, but it’s not enough to register in the receiver’s mind or elicit real change.
Not all feedback is this way, but if you’re thinking about how to deliver a message, this sentiment probably applies.
Bad feedback doesn’t always hurt, but it also doesn’t feel good in the long run (and may just leave the recipient confused). So when I’m giving feedback, since I’m making the effort anyway, my goal is to make sure my message is heard, even if that’s a little painful. My attitude is this: if my intentions are well-meaning, and I'm prioritizing safety - I'm on solid ground.