Episode 64: The Feedback That Actually Changes Behavior

Most feedback creates defensiveness. Feedforward creates development.In this episode of A Student of Leadership, Robert Adams shares the concept that changed how he leads and coaches: feedforward. The shift from looking in the rearview mirror to looking through the windshield. And the stakeholder approach to leadership development that removes the distortion of self-assessment.In this episode:- Robert's personal story: why the feedback conversations he was having were not changing behavior, and what shifted when the language changed- The rearview mirror versus the windshield: a visual that reframes how development conversations land- Why backward-facing information produces defense, and how forward-facing information produces development- The exact language shift that keeps the wall from going up in your next development conversation- The stakeholder piece: why the people you impact and influence every day hold the most accurate picture of your actual leadership behavior- How to use a two-part stakeholder question to ground your development in reality rather than self-perception- Where AI genuinely helps in the feedback and development space and where the relational work belongs to the leaderThe core language shift:Instead of: "Here is what happened and what you did wrong."Try: "The next time this situation comes up, I would like to see more of this and less of that."The stakeholder two-part question:Looking back 30 days: what behavior did you actually observe from this leader?Looking forward 30 days: what is one thing this leader could do that would have positive impact on you and the team?Referenced this week:Feedforward approach: developed and championed by Marshall Goldsmith, executive coach and leadership thinker. Robert Adams is a Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coach.Episode 63: Developing People in a Time-Starved Environment. Available now in your podcast feed.CONNECT WITH ROBERT ADAMS:The Leadership Table, weekly newsletter on Substack (free)A weekly leadership playbook. Every Monday at 6:00 AM EST.https://robertadamsleader.substack.com/Breaking Bread, LinkedIn Newsletter (free)The shorter version of the week's idea. Every Friday at 6:45 AM EST.https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7316826823063920641/Subscribe to A Student of Leadership:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-student-of-leadership-real-leaders-real-growth-one-table/id1788679511Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KdlbKAVbF118b2KhfcpqyWebsite: https://astudentofleadership.riverside.com/Share this with a leader who is having the same feedback conversation and not seeing behavior change.Real Leaders. Real Growth. One Table.Robert Adams | A Student of Leadership