Guidance is a gift, not a whip or a carrot

Constructive criticism can feel uncomfortable, but it’s one of the most valuable gifts you can give.

As Kim Scott says, “Guidance is a gift, not a carrot.” When you shift your mindset to see feedback as a way to help someone grow — and not delivered as “power over” but rather “power with” — it becomes easier to deliver it effectively.

People in your charge will actually thrive when they know your expectations and boundaries.

Let’s say a teammate consistently submits reports with missing details, you could say: “I’ve noticed some key data is missing in the reports, which makes it harder for me to make decisions quickly. Including these specific metrics will help the team make better decisions. Can we work on that together?”

Offering feedback is an act of care, not criticism when you focus on mutual objectives.