What if the toughest conversation on your calendar is the very thing that unlocks respect, growth, and retention? We sit down with leadership expert and best-selling author Jeff Hancher to demystify feedback and turn a dreaded chore into a repeatable system for building high-trust, high-performance teams.
Jeff shares a clear framework for setting expectations and choosing the right feedback style for the moment: directive when safety or standards are on the line, collaborative when you need ownership from a seasoned pro, and supportive when a proven performer hits a dip. We talk through common blockers—fear of fallout, emotional reactions, and not knowing how to start—and replace them with practical language leaders can use today. You’ll hear how to earn the right to be candid through steady “deposits,” why annual reviews create blind spots, and how weekly one-on-ones become the engine of engagement.
Along the way, Jeff’s personal story shows the power of firm feedback delivered with care. A manager who held the line and held space changed his trajectory—and his loyalty—forever. We explore how to move from people pleasing to respect, how to ask questions that reveal self-awareness, and why withholding feedback is unfair to the person and the business. Expect simple phrases, a cadence you can sustain all year, and a playbook for confident, compassionate conversations that actually change behavior.
Ready to trade avoidance for impact? Press play, then share this episode with a leader who avoids tough talks. If it resonated, follow the show, leave a quick review, and tell us which feedback style you’ll try first. Your team will thank you.
🌐 Connect with Jeff:
• Website: https://www.jeffhancher.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hancher/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeff.hancher/
📚 You can purchase Jeff's book on Amazon:
• Firm Feedback in a Fragile World: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DV4N8DN8/
✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!
📝 Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the episode in the comments below.
🔔 Join us in our mission at The Leadership Project and learn more about our organisation here: https://linktr.ee/mickspiers
📕 You can purchase a copy of the Mick Spiers bestselling book "You're a Leader, Now What?" as an eBook or paperback at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZBKK8XV
If you would like a signed copy, please reach out to sei@mickspiers.com and we can arrange it for you too.
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