What Happens When Leaders Reject Feedback?

Feedback: information about a person's performance, used as a basis for improvement.

One of the biggest challenges in leadership is the distance organizations create between the executive team and employees. This kind of structure makes feedback difficult. Without feedback, leaders can become self-centered and live in a state of deception, hiring employees who become their puppets. They begin to see themselves in a way that does not reflect the reality of the team. Feedback allows leaders to see what they cannot or do not want to see.

An organization in the U.S. had a key leader who created internal processes and strategic decisions to protect himself from receiving any real feedback. He also established lines of authority to shut down conversations whenever any feedback about him surfaced. It wasn’t that he was a bad person with bad intentions. He was a young leader who had not been trained to receive honest, clear criticism. He was mired in his own ego. As a result, the team drew an invisible line and made sure not to cross it.

Christ-centered leadership is full of honest feedback. That does not mean we will lead like Jesus; it means we will be led by Jesus. That is an enormous difference when applied to our lives as leaders. We cannot lead like Jesus, but we can lead by learning who Jesus is and what He did. The team we work with is essential in helping us see how well we are learning from Jesus and from what He did. It helps us improve and avoid repeating foolish mistakes. There is a principle called Four Eyes, widely used in editing. The idea is to have someone else review your work and give feedback, because they will help you see what you could not see on your own.

A Christ-centered leader desires and creates clear pathways for honest feedback.

Do you struggle, as a leader, to receive feedback? Have you ever worked with a leader who does not accept feedback?