Operations

Install a Feedback Flywheel

Create a consistent rhythm of development conversations that strengthen team ownership, surface issues early, and make feedback feel natural instead of high-stakes.

Updated October 20, 2018·9 min read·~6 weeks

There is a consistent rhythm of feedback and conversation across the team, and issues are surfaced and addressed earlier instead of building up.

Why This Project Matters

Most business owners would rather have a root canal than give feedback to an underperforming team member. We don't want to hurt their feelings. We don't want to make it awkward. We don't want to keep having the same conversation on repeat.

And so… we don't. We avoid it. We ignore it. We hope they'll turn it around somehow. And things get worse.

Before long, even just the thought of logging into Slack makes you want to crawl back into bed. They're pulling you down, costing you money, and draining your energy.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in your business is to only talk with team members about performance when things are going poorly. This teaches your team members to hide mistakes, stay stagnant, and not take risks.

That's why it's important to have a Feedback Flywheel — a rhythm of ongoing development conversations that lets you talk about what's going well and what to work on, how you're doing as their leader, and what's next for them (a raise, a promotion, developing new skills).

When done right, performance conversations aren't a chore or a checkbox. They're the engine of long-term team growth. Every turn of the flywheel moves the business forward:

  1. Take on New Responsibilities — a team member is given new outcomes to deliver
  2. Own the Responsibilities — through regular conversations, they get the clarity, support, and feedback needed to take full ownership
  3. Grow & Expand — once they own it, they can improve, innovate, and create results beyond what had been possible before

And then they're ready for what's next. Their growth opens up new opportunities and responsibilities, which starts the cycle again.

Milestones