What is it?

This practical, hands-on workshop helps your team build confidence in receiving feedback, reduce defensiveness, and turn everyday conversations into opportunities for learning, trust and better collaboration.

Why is it useful?

This workshop helps you build the confidence and skill to turn any feedback — even the tough or messy kind — into a tool for growth and stronger teamwork.

Objectives

• Understand different types of feedback and why they matter.
• Recognise personal triggers and patterns in receiving feedback.
• Practise asking for and responding to feedback with curiosity.
• Use “Tell me more” to explore feedback instead of reacting defensively.
• Build shared habits that support open, constructive feedback as a team.

Resources Required

• Time: 1.5 hours
• Number of People: 4-20
• Flip chart or whiteboard
• Markers
• Printed handouts with trigger descriptions
• Timer or phone
• Feedback prompt cards (or simply use a shared list)

Process

Step 1: Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

1. Goal: “We’re here to practise giving and receiving feedback so we can build resilience, clarity and stronger working relationships.”

Step 2: Warm-Up: What Feedback Feels Like (10 minutes)

1. Solo Reflection: Write down:
   • One piece of feedback that helped you grow
   • One piece that was hard to hear
2. Small Groups (3–4): Share stories briefly. Look for patterns in what made the feedback helpful or hard.

Step 3: 3 Types of Feedback + 3 Triggers (10 minutes)

1. 3 Types of Feedback:
   • Appreciation
   • Coaching
   • Evaluation
2. 3 Triggers That Block Feedback:
   • Truth Trigger – “That’s wrong”
   • Relationship Trigger – “Who are you to tell me?”
   • Identity Trigger – “This changes how I see myself”

Step 4: Shift from “What’s Wrong?” to “Tell Me More” (5 minutes)

1. When we hear feedback, we often jump to “That’s not right” or “That’s unfair.”
2. A different habit: respond with “Tell me more.”
   • What’s behind their view?
   • What might be useful in it?
3. Treat feedback as data, not a verdict.

Step 5: Paired Practice: Receiving Feedback (30 minutes)

1. Part 1: Preparing to Receive (5 mins): Each person reflects and writes:
   • One thing I’m working on
   • One question I’d love feedback on (e.g. “What’s one thing I could do better in team meetings?”)
2. Part 2: Feedback Rounds (2 x 12 mins):
   • Pairs take turns.
   • Person A asks for feedback using their question.
   • Person B gives brief, honest feedback (1–2 minutes).
   • Person A listens only. No justifying or explaining.
   • After hearing the feedback, Person A says:
     • “Thanks. Can I ask — can you tell me a bit more about what you noticed?”
   • Then discuss: What did I hear? What felt useful or hard?
   • Swap roles.

Step 6: Group Debrief (15 minutes)

1. Discussion questions:
   • What helped you hear the feedback?
   • What made it hard?
   • How did it feel to say “Tell me more”?
   • What might change in how you respond to feedback at work?
2. Capture key reflections on a flip chart.

Step 7: Team Commitments (10 minutes)

1. Group question: “What’s one way we can improve how we give or receive feedback as a team?”
2. Capture shared practices on a flip chart or whiteboard (e.g. ask for feedback monthly, respond with curiosity, try “Tell me more” before defending).