This Working Life Can I give you some feedback?
Feb 22, 2026
James Donald, a management lecturer researching feedback and leadership, and Roisin McCann, a facilitator who builds leadership and feedback cultures, unpack practical ways to give and receive feedback. They cover coaching and strengths-based approaches, SBI-style specificity, avoiding defensive reactions, setting up regular feedback routines, and simple questions to make feedback habitual and constructive.
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Feedback Builds Capacity And Engagement
- Feedback's purpose is to make people feel noticed and to build capacity for improved performance.
- Roisin McCann links relevant, timely, specific feedback to engagement, retention and productivity during hiring shortages.
Coach To Create Your Own Aha
- Use a coaching approach: ask what worked, invite the person's insight, then add observations if needed to spark an 'aha'.
- Guide people to recognise strengths first so learning sticks and future behaviour changes.
Numeric Ratings Destroyed Trust Once
- Roisin McCann recounts marking a promoted sales rep 8/10 without context which devastated him and cost six months to rebuild trust.
- She learned never to use numerical-only systems and always explain process and context first.