In most professional settings, feedback is often watered down to avoid discomfort. Leaders frequently share about 90% of their thoughts but hold back the final, most crucial piece of the truth. This hesitation creates a culture of “kindness” that is actually a form of fiction, preventing real growth and clarity.

To scale a business effectively, you must master the art of the “last 10%” conversation. True leadership feedback for employees is not about an annual review once or twice a year; it is about building a daily habit of brutal honesty that eliminates surprises.

The daily rhythm of feedback

High-growth organizations do not wait for formal evaluations to correct course. Instead, they build feedback into the core of every engagement. The goal is for team members to become new, better versions of themselves several times over in a single year because the feedback loop is so tight.

One of the most tactical leadership feedback examples is for the leader to take responsibility by asking for feedback first. By asking, “What is one thing I did well and what is one thing I could improve?”, you demonstrate that truth is valued over ego.

Navigating the last 10 percent

The “last 10%” is often the hardest thing to say, but it is also the most transformative. We often regulate our speech because we think it’s for the sake of others, but it is usually a selfish act to protect ourselves from being exposed.

To develop leadership skills in your team, you must coach them to lean into this discomfort. When leaders are willing to tell the “second margarita 10%”—the absolute truth they would only say in a relaxed, private setting—it radically changes the relationship and the speed of the business.

Using feedback to resolve conflict

Healthy workplace culture is built on a commitment to deal with conflict immediately. Conflict often brews because people are not being honest with one another, leading to silos and gossip.

By using consistent feedback as a tool, you can identify conflict before it becomes destructive. People love following truth-tellers because they never have to wonder if what you are saying is really what you meant.

Related resources

• The ultimate leadership development strategy for scaling founders.
• How to build trust at work: the secret to organizational health.
• Building team culture that survives rapid growth.
• How to grow leaders in the workplace using a talent factory model.
• Why every leader needs a successional mindset.

Listen to the full podcast episode here.