Feedback: Praise in Public, Everything Else in Private

Recently, I delivered a course for leaders and managers on having better feedback conversations. Alongside language, timing, and models, we explored how feedback affects wellbeing at work. Done with care, it builds safety and trust. Done carelessly, it can quietly chip away at confidence.

One idea we discussed was this: praise in public, everything else in private.

At the heart of this is something even more important: understanding the person in front of you.

For example, while many people are happy to receive public praise, not everyone is. When we take time to notice what people need and how they like to receive feedback, communication becomes supportive rather than unsettling. That kind of care makes it possible for people not just to get by, but to thrive at work.

How do you like to receive feedback?