How to Give Feedback at Work

Feedback is a Conversation – Not a Correction

Giving feedback at work is one of the most powerful leadership skills — yet it’s one of the most misunderstood.

We’re not talking about annual reviews or formal appraisals.
We’re talking about everyday moments:
The “Can I share something with you?” conversations.
The “That didn’t quite land the way we hoped” reflections.
The small but critical opportunities where tone, timing, and trust matter more than polished phrases.

Because feedback isn’t spontaneous. It’s designed.

Why Feedback Skills Are Essential for Managers and Leaders

When feedback is missing or poorly delivered, confusion and friction grow.
When it’s handled with skill and emotional intelligence, trust deepens and performance improves.

This is why coaching skills for managers are no longer optional. They are essential leadership skills for today’s high-trust teams.

Research shows that 69% of employees say they would work harder if they felt their efforts were better recognised. (Gallup)
Meanwhile, 40% of employees report feeling disengaged when they receive little or no feedback at work. (OfficeVibe)

If you’re serious about building better teams, strengthening leadership communication, and creating a coaching culture, mastering feedback conversations is where it begins.

Learn more on rethinking performance reviews.

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Feedback Conversations

Giving feedback is not just about content — it’s about emotional leadership.

Every feedback conversation carries an emotional charge.
The best leaders and managers know how to:

Read the emotional signals in the room
Pace the conversation based on receptivity
Use language that invites reflection rather than resistance

Developing emotional intelligence at work is a game-changer for this.
It’s not about being soft — it’s about being smart with emotions.

When leaders manage emotional energy well, feedback becomes a tool for growth, not conflict.

Coaching Tips for Managers: How to Transform Feedback into Growth

Most professionals are never formally trained in giving feedback.
They rely on instinct or outdated techniques like the “feedback sandwich,” hoping the message lands safely.

But coaching-based leadership offers a better path:

Framing feedback through purpose and clarity
Asking solution-focused questions that invite ownership
Pausing to check understanding before delivering input
Building trust before challenging perspectives

This is exactly what we develop in the Feedback Conversation Workshop — a half-day, high-impact training that reshapes how managers and teams give and receive feedback.

A Real Example: Feedback as Coaching

At one point in a job, I had to give feedback to a new hire who wasn’t quite meeting expectations.
Others were beginning to notice, and tensions were rising.

Instead of jumping in with corrections, I started with a check-in.
Using coaching techniques, I asked about his view of the situation — mapping where he was, before introducing new perspectives.

We uncovered that it was a skills gap, not a motivation issue.
Because we approached the conversation with curiosity and clarity, he was open to retraining. The team felt heard. Trust stayed intact.

The lesson? Feedback works best when it’s a conversation, not a correction.

What We Teach in the Feedback Conversation Workshop

In the workshop, your team will learn how to:

Recognise and create feedback moments
Apply coaching-based feedback techniques
Use emotional intelligence to pace conversations
Build stronger trust through transparent communication
Shift from reaction to reflection with structured conversation models

Learn more about building a coaching culture in organisations.

Want to Deliver a Workshop, email us here

Visit the Executive Coaching page, if you want 1:1 coaching on your leadership and feedback strategy

Book a Workshop for Your Team

If you want your team to strengthen their feedback skills, build emotional intelligence, and lead with confidence — book a half-day Feedback Conversation Workshop today.

You’ll equip your managers with simple, powerful tools to:

Create trust-driven feedback moments
Reduce tension and confusion
Build a culture of openness and growth

👉 Book a Discovery Call on Calendly
👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn

Want to Take Feedback Skills Even Further?

For teams and managers ready to deepen their leadership capabilities, I also offer a Coaching Skills for Managers workshop — building advanced coaching conversations into everyday leadership practices.

If you’re ready to move beyond basic skills and into transformational leadership communication, let’s talk.

A short workshop. A lasting change.
A new way for your teams to connect, communicate, and grow.