Why Feedback Fails (and How it Actually Works): Beyond the Perfect Script

Most management training treats feedback like a linear transaction: follow the script, and performance improves. But in reality, feedback is information landing in a complex human system—one where neither the giver nor the receiver has 100% control over how it lands. When feedback fails, we often default to blame: the giver "did it wrong," or the receiver "isn't open to growth."

The truth is that feedback remains one of our most valuable tools for improvement, but only if we stop trying to "force" it and start being intentional about the system it lands in.

In this talk, we’ll dismantle the unfair expectations we place on individuals in the feedback loop. We will explore the neurological and systemic reasons why feedback outcomes can be so unpredictable, and why the "perfect delivery" or “perfect mindset” often aren't enough. We’ll discuss how to be intentional about which feedback promotes growth, how to design environments that support the person behind the performance, and how to increase the statistical probability that your feedback leads to the success you both want.
Come to this talk to learn how to navigate the feedback loop with more clarity, less frustration, and better results.

As a data engineer at Yelp and the founder of Calgary Software Crafters, Jacqueline Lee is dedicated to understanding the intersection of people and the technology they write and use. With a firm belief that empathy is a technical skill, Jacqueline excels in running experiments and testing assumptions to enhance delivery flow.

Topic: TBD
Zoom meeting opens around 9:30 AM PT
Zoom Presentation starts at 10:00 AM PT