The Next 52 Weeks...

Let’s be honest—feedback isn’t always easy. Sometimes it stings. Sometimes it feels awkward. But lately, this is what I have learned: great leaders don’t just give feedback—they welcome it. They invite it, learn from it, and use it to make everything around them better. The book The New One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard, has shaped my philosophy of both leadership and feedback. He nails it with this line:

“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.”

In other words, if you want to grow, you’ve got to eat your feedback. Daily. Even when it’s hard to swallow. And this isn’t just good leadership advice, it’s biblical. Proverbs 15:31-32 (NLT) says:

“If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.”

So if we want to grow in wisdom and lead well, feedback can’t be optional. It must be essential. Here are three ways to lead with feedback in mind:

1. Build Feedback Into Your Culture

If you only give feedback when something goes wrong, you’re already behind. Feedback needs to be part of your normal rhythm—not just a quarterly meeting or a year-end review.

Whether it’s a quick “Hey, here’s something I noticed” or a more formal one-on-one, create space where feedback flows freely and safely. The more often it happens, the less intimidating it becomes. And when people know feedback is part of your culture, they’ll trust that it’s not just about fixing problems, but instead about helping them grow.

Another thing I did was ask everyone on my team how they receive feedback best. I thought everyone was just going to say, "Give me feedback." Boy, was I surprised when everyone on my team gave me a different preferred method of receiving feedback. If the goal is to give feedback, I want to be able to do it well. Even the most well-intentioned feedback can be lost when it is given in the wrong way.

2. Practice 360-Degree Feedback

As leaders, it’s easy to give feedback from the top down. But the real magic happens when it goes in every direction. Invite feedback from your team. Ask your peers how you’re doing. Give those under your leadership permission to be honest. It can definitely be uncomfortable at first, but it’s also the fastest way to get better.

And don’t just say you’re open to feedback, but show it. Receive their words with humility and thank them when they speak up. Then take action. That builds trust.

3. Still Allow Opportunities to Fail

Here’s the twist: feedback doesn’t mean we expect perfection. In fact, one of the best gifts you can give your team is the freedom to fail without fear. When people know that failure won’t get them punished, but will help them learn, they’ll take more ownership. They’ll try new things and help our team grow. Feedback should fuel growth, not fear. Make room for people to try, mess up, and try again—with your support along the way.

Every Summer when I first sit down with our incoming interns, I always let them know that this is the perfect place to try something. My line is always: I'm here to be your safety net. Try something and I won't let you completely fall on your face. If they have a crazy idea or if they feel Holy Spirit stirring something inside them, great! Let's talk about it and move forward. I will not be upset if they try something and learn from it. I will be upset if they play it too safe and never try anything. Remember what happened to the servant who only buried the master's talent? I don't want that to be the same experience for our interns.

Feedback isn’t about pointing out what’s wrong. It’s about calling people up. It’s about growth, maturity, and moving toward who God created us to be.

So from June 1, 2025 until May 31, 2026, I'll be asking for feedback each week from a few trusted people in my life. That is 52 pieces of feedback. Definitely more than I'm comfortable with, but more than enough to help me grow. I’m not doing this because I love criticism because I don’t. I’m doing it because I want to become a better leader, communicator, husband, father, and follower of Jesus. I’ve learned that the only way to grow is to be honest about where I’m at, and brave enough to ask others what they see.

If you're a leader reading this, maybe it's time to do something similar. Maybe it’s time to ask for a little more feedback than feels safe because comfort rarely leads to transformation. Let’s be the kind of leaders who invite truth, embrace growth, and model humility. And if you have any feedback for me, please take a number! I should be getting to you in the next few months.