Listen "Why Is Feedback So Awkward?"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode of The Talent Tango, Amir Bormand is joined by Heather Cassar to unpack the nuances of giving and receiving feedback in the workplace. From real-time feedback practices to performance reviews, Heather shares practical tips on how to build trust, motivate teams, and make feedback a natural part of company culture—without making it awkward. Whether you're in HR, a people leader, or a manager navigating hybrid teams, this episode offers a human-centered approach to feedback that boosts both trust and performance. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Feedback must be real-time, detailed, and actionable. Don't wait until a performance review to deliver insights—timing builds trust. Trust is the foundation. One-on-ones that include personal check-ins foster stronger feedback relationships. Avoid the "big reveal." Holding feedback until review season erodes trust and reduces opportunities for course correction. Feedback culture isn't top-down only. Tailor feedback strategies by department and encourage peer-to-peer feedback to scale trust. It's only as weird as you make it. Normalize feedback by using everyday tools like Slack and keeping the tone conversational. 🕒 Timestamped Highlights: 00:23 – Introduction to Heather Cassar and the topic of feedback 01:17 – Heather's 3 principles of effective feedback: timing, balance, and actionability 05:10 – How personal connection in 1:1s builds trust for better feedback reception 06:59 – Checking perspective first: "Did you think the presentation went well?" 09:25 – "It's only as weird as you make it"—changing the perception of feedback 12:32 – Aligning feedback with individual motivators for better outcomes 14:30 – The problem with waiting for performance reviews to deliver feedback 19:07 – Imprinting feedback into company culture across different functions 21:46 – Feedback tied to business outcomes and inter-team trust 24:22 – The "carrot vs stick" approach to feedback adoption 27:23 – How to connect with Heather 💬 Memorable Quote: "Surprising people is the quickest way to degrade trust—and it's really hard to come back from that." – Heather Cassar
More episodes of the podcast The Talent Tango
The Human Side of AI in Talent
17/10/2025
How Top People Leaders Pick the Right Tools
23/07/2025
Hiring Fast Without Lowering the Bar
16/07/2025
Why People Teams Need Product Rigor
09/07/2025
How Great Leaders Rebuild Broken Trust
25/06/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.