I struggled with giving (and receiving) feedback for many years of my career, even though I knew it was one of the most powerful ways to grow myself and those around me. Over time, I noticed we often made it far more difficult than it needed to be, and we mixed up the art with the artist.
That's why I created this Feedback Manifesto and I hope it can serve you and those around you to keep it simple and make the feedback flow naturally and, always, constructively.
When you give the gift of feedback, you share your opinion about the art and should never judge the artist or attempt to describe what their motivations were.
When you receive, you need to remember it's not about you, it's about this specific instance. If the gift doesn't resonate with you, then it's yours to toss away. It can never be forced upon you.
This simple template does a lot of work to avoid pitfalls. It keeps feedback specific and observable, avoids judging intent, and owns the experience as yours rather than a universal truth. Whether the feedback is positive or not, the structure stays the same. And if it takes more than 15 seconds to deliver, you're probably doing it wrong.
The manifesto covers both sides of the exchange: principles for giving (keep it constructive, specific, timely, and one piece at a time) and principles for receiving (listen fully, resist the urge to defend, and say thank you).
Download it, share it with your team, or keep it close for your next one-to-one. The goal is simple: make feedback quick, easy, and something people actually want to give - and receive.
Oh, almost forgot, always open to constructive feedback on it!
