You’re not alone. And it’s not a character flaw. Your brain is literally wired to treat negative feedback as a threat, triggering a fight-or-flight response that makes it almost impossible to hear what’s actually being said. The result? You either shut down, go on the defensive, or walk away without extracting the really valuable data that could transform your career trajectory.
In this episode, Heather explores the art of receiving difficult feedback with intelligence and composure. And why your ability to do this well is one of the fastest accelerators on your path to partner. Inspired by a substack note from Maurizio Cuna, partner in the consulting arm of a global technology firm and author of Beyond Slides, this episode gives you the exact framework to turn even the most uncomfortable feedback conversation into career gold.
In this episode you will learn:
How to manage your brain’s threat response so you can actually hear what’s being said instead of going into damage control
Why vague feedback like “you need more gravitas” is useless, and the exact questions to ask to uncover the specific behaviours behind it
How to keep digging to find out whether you’re dealing with an isolated incident or a deeper reputational issue that could be quietly killing your partnership chances
The one email to send 24 hours after receiving difficult feedback that shows you’ve heard it, and actively involves the other person in your development
If you find this episode useful, don’t forget to like it and
About Progress To Partner Academy: On-demand career help and guidance
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Links:
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Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathertownsend/
Join our Progress To Partner Academy - https://subscribe.howtomakepartner.com/progresstopartner/ and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off 12 months of premium annual membership.
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