Feedback shouldn't feel personal. But it does. Even when it's delivered thoughtfully. Even when you asked for it. Even when you know, intellectually, that it's meant to help. Something in you tightens. Your mind starts composing a defense before the other person finishes their sentence. You smile and nod while internally dismissing what you're hearing. This isn't weakness. It's biology.
It's easy to hear feedback as judgment. As criticism. As a verdict on who you are. But feedback isn't a verdict. It's a mirror. It shows you how you're landing — not who you are at your core. The best leaders I know don't just tolerate feedback. They seek it. Because they know: you can't see your own blind spots without a mirror.
When was the last time you asked someone for honest feedback?
