143: Communication Expert: The Psychology Behind Feedback That Works | Joe Hirsch
Release Date:
March 20, 2025
Release Date: Mar 18
Giving and receiving feedback is one of the most critical yet difficult skills in leadership. Many leaders avoid giving honest feedback, and even more struggle to receive it without defensiveness. But what if feedback didn’t have to feel so uncomfortable?
In today’s episode, we’re joined by Joe Hirsch, a communication expert, speaker, and author of The Feedback Fix. Joe introduces his Feed Forward approach—transforming feedback from a dreaded conversation into a tool for growth. He shares strategies on how to foster a feedback culture, filter out bad feedback, and turn tough conversations into learning moments.
What You’ll Learn:
Why leaders struggle with giving and receiving feedback
How to shift feedback conversations from blame to partnership
The science behind why feedback triggers defensiveness
How to ask for better feedback and become a feedback magnet
The Feed Forward approach to make feedback feel empowering, not punishing
In This Episode:
00:01 – Introduction to Joe Hirsch
01:07 – Why Feedback is Hard (But Necessary)
03:56 – Becoming a Feedback Magnet
05:39 – Joe’s Personal Story: Why Feedback Became His Life’s Work
09:25 – What is Feed Forward?
11:44 – How to Deliver Feedback Without Causing Defensiveness
16:13 – What to Do When People Resist Feedback
18:12 – Creating a Feedback Culture in Teams
20:07 – How to Normalize Feedback in the Workplace
24:12 – The Neuroscience of Learning from Mistakes
28:24 – How to Filter Good vs. Bad Feedback
32:21 – The Danger of Asking Too Many People for Feedback
