The Feedback That Actually Changes Behavior... Why Good Job Isn't Good Enough

“Good job!”It’s positive. It’s encouraging. But is it actually useful?In this episode of Lead with Learning, we’re talking about one of the simplest—and most overlooked—leadership skills: giving specific, targeted feedback.When feedback is too broad, employees are left guessing. What exactly did I do well? What should I do differently? What should I make sure I repeat next time?Effective feedback gives people something they can actually use. Instead of simply saying, “Great presentation,” we can identify what made it great. Instead of saying, “You need to communicate better,” we can pinpoint the specific behavior that needs to change.And there’s another important piece of the conversation: positive feedback.As leaders, we often make time for negative feedback. We’ll sit down, address the problem, explain what needs to change, and make sure the message is clear.But when someone does something really well? We may be quick to say, “Nice job!” and move on.That’s a missed learning opportunity.Specific positive feedback helps people understand what success looks like—and gives them something they can intentionally repeat. When we tell people exactly what’s working, we aren’t just making them feel good. We’re helping them learn.In this episode, we’ll look at how to make feedback more targeted, actionable, and meaningful—and how shifting the way we give feedback can help employees learn faster, build confidence, and improve performance.Because feedback shouldn’t just tell someone how they did.It should help them know what to do next.