Give Better Feedback

6 feedback frameworks every leader needs to master.

(Most people only know one)

Giving feedback is one of the hardest parts of leadership.

Say too little and nothing changes.

Say too much and you crush someone’s spirit.

The secret?

Having the right framework for the right moment.

Use these 6 powerful approaches to transform
how you give feedback:

1) COIN – For Behavior Correction
↳ Context, Observation, Impact, Next Steps.
↳ Perfect when you need to address something
that went wrong without making it personal.

2) BOOST – For Positive Reinforcement
↳ Balanced, Objective, Observable, Specific, Timely.
↳ Because vague praise like “good job” means nothing.

3) GROW – For Coaching Conversations
↳ Goals, Reality, Options, Will.
↳ Helps your people find their own answers
instead of you handing them solutions.

4) FEED – For Constructive Feedback
↳ Facts, Effects, Expectations, Development.
↳ Keeps difficult conversations grounded in
what actually happened.

5) CEDAR – For Performance Reviews
↳ Context, Examples, Diagnosis, Action, Review.
↳ Makes annual reviews feel useful instead of dreaded.

6) 360-Degree Review – For Career Development
↳ Gathers input from all directions.
↳ Gives your people the full picture of how they show up.

After 20+ years of leadership, I’ve learned:

The framework matters less than the intention behind it.

If your people know you genuinely care
about their growth,

they’ll receive even tough feedback as a gift.

If they sense you’re just checking a box,
no framework will save you.

Choose the right tool for the moment.

Lead with kindness.

And watch your team transform.

Save this cheat sheet. You’ll need it.