Stop Hating Feedback | Beyond The Grind #029

The Art of Feedback: Why Your Business Needs It to Grow

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions." That’s how Allen Charles puts it, and it’s the core idea of a recent conversation we had on Beyond The Grind. For any entrepreneur, founder, or professional looking to grow, the ability to both give and receive feedback is not just a soft skill—it's a survival tool.

But let’s be honest: feedback can be tough. Whether you're on the giving or receiving end, it can feel confrontational, personal, and just plain awkward. We often avoid it, especially with people we know, for fear of being too blunt or seeming unsolicited. But as we discussed, if you're running a business, you can’t afford to be in the dark. You need to know what’s working and what isn't, from your product to your team’s performance.

The Challenge: Why We Hate Feedback

One of the biggest hurdles with feedback is how it’s framed. A comment like, "Your service was terrible," is a dead end. It’s blunt, lacks context, and immediately puts the other person on the defensive. It becomes criticism, not a tool for improvement.

As Tosin Omotayo pointed out, a lot of people simply aren't open to being corrected. "It's dangerous when you don't have anyone you allow to give you feedback in your life," he said. This resistance often stems from a fear of hearing negative things. We all want to hear we’re doing a great job. But if that's all you hear, you should be suspicious. Either someone is lying, or you’ve somehow achieved perfection—and we know which is more likely.

This is where perspective becomes reality. Your intentions might be pure, but if your delivery is off, the message will be lost. The goal isn’t just to get something off your chest; that’s venting. The goal is to inspire change and drive improvement.

A Framework for Giving Better Feedback

Giving feedback effectively is an art. Allen shared a powerful framework he uses as a business advisor: Situation, Behavior, Impact.

Instead of making broad, emotional statements, you ground the feedback in observable facts. It’s the difference between saying, "You’re being disruptive," and, "Yesterday, during the team presentation (the situation), I noticed you kept interrupting the speaker before they could finish their point (the behavior). The impact was that it made it hard for others to follow the conversation."

This approach does three things:

1. It removes accusation: You’re describing what you saw, not judging their character.
2. It clarifies the problem: It connects a specific action to a tangible outcome.
3. It opens a dialogue: It invites the other person to share their perspective.

This method, often called the "sandwich" approach, works best when you start with a positive affirmation, deliver the constructive feedback, and close with a supportive statement. You’re showing that you’re on their team and want to win together.

How to Receive Feedback (Without Getting Defensive)

Receiving feedback is arguably the harder part of the equation. It requires humility and a growth mindset.

Tosin suggests starting from a place of trust. "I always tell my staff anytime you're getting feedback I want you guys to start from a foundation that no one hates you. No one is trying to tear you down," he explained. Assume the person has good intentions, even if their delivery isn’t perfect.

When you receive feedback, especially if it stings, your first instinct might be to shut down or get defensive. The key is to get curious. Dig deeper. If a client says your new process "sucks," your next question should be, "Can you tell me more about what isn’t working?" Their answers are gold. They highlight the exact pain points you need to solve.

Remember, one person’s feedback is just one data point. It’s their perspective. After receiving it, you can take a step back and even ask others to see if it’s a shared viewpoint or an outlier. This allows you to process the information without letting emotion take over.

Ultimately, complacency is the enemy of progress. As business owners, we have to be intentional about seeking out feedback. If you’re not hearing any, it doesn’t mean everything is perfect. It might mean you’re not approachable, or worse, people simply don't care enough to help you improve.

We’d love to hear how you handle feedback in your own careers and businesses. Drop your thoughts in the comments.

For more honest conversations about business and life, watch the full episode on YouTube and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for updates.