Why Most Feedback Falls Flat And How to Make Yours Count
LM
Lloyd Munyaviri
EMCC Accredited Coach
By Lloyd at L2M Coaching & Mentoring Whether you're a leader, coach, educator, or parent, you've likely had moments when your feedback...
By Lloyd at L2M Coaching & Mentoring
Whether you're a leader, coach, educator, or parent, you've likely had moments when your feedback didn’t land the way you hoped. Maybe the person shut down. Maybe they got defensive. Or maybe despite your best intentions your message just didn’t stick.
The truth is, feedback is an essential leadership skill, but it’s often misunderstood. At L2M Coaching & Mentoring, we believe feedback should fuel growth, not fear. When used well, it's not just about correction it's about connection, clarity, and confidence.
So What Makes Feedback Effective?
It starts with intention. Are you speaking to empower or to vent? Are you sharing insight or asserting control? People respond to your why just as much as your what.
To help you reflect on your approach, we’ve created a Feedback Cheat Sheet that outlines 15 habits that help and 15 pitfalls to avoid. Here are some highlights:
✅ Power Habits That Strengthen Feedback
❌ Common Traps That Shut People Down
💬 Say What You Feel And Mean It
Words like frustrated, appreciated, ignored, or energized are powerful because they show your human experience. Try saying, “When you missed the deadline, I felt overwhelmed because I had to change my schedule.” That’s more impactful and fair than saying, “You always drop the ball.”
📥 Want the Full Cheat Sheet?
We’ve bundled our full 15 Do’s and Don’ts list plus an emotional vocabulary bank into a free downloadable Effective Feedback Cheat Sheet to use in coaching sessions, team meetings, or personal reflection. 👉 Cheat Sheet here:
Final Thought
Feedback isn’t about being “nice” or “brutally honest.” It’s about building trust while encouraging growth. Whether you’re leading a team or guiding a teenager, the way you give feedback matters just as much as the message itself.
Let’s get bettertogether.
– Lloyd, Founder of L2M Coaching & Mentoring Unlock Your Potential
Reading creates awareness. Coaching creates lasting change. Book a free 30-minute conversation to explore what this could look like in your specific situation.
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