For a lot of us, the idea of receiving feedback sparks fear or defensiveness. It might feel like a floodlight on your flaws or a magnifying glass over your mistakes. But what if you shifted your perspective? What if you embraced feedback as a compass to guide your growth and fulfillment?

Compassionate candor is the key. When sought out and delivered with care, candid feedback becomes less about criticism and more about empowerment. Whether you’re seeking out new job opportunities or looking for greater fulfillment in your current role, collecting feedback allows you to see yourself more clearly, challenge your limits, and build stronger relationships.

The Connection Between Candor and Self-Awareness

One of the most meaningful outcomes of inviting compassionate candor is greater self-awareness. When you seek honest feedback, you can see yourself through someone else’s eyes. This can provide invaluable perspective, shining a light on:

• The strengths and unique gifts that you may overlook.
• The blind spots you need to address.
• Patterns in your behavior that shape how you’re perceived.

You may not realize it, but self-awareness is a professional superpower. The better you understand yourself—your behaviors, tendencies, and areas for growth—the better equipped you are to collaborate, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

But too often, something stands in our path to greater self-awareness. That obstacle is fear.

Why Do We Fear Feedback?

It’s natural to fear feedback. It exposes us and leaves us vulnerable to judgment and critique. But sometimes, the fear lies not in the feedback itself but in the stories you tell yourself:

What if I’m not good enough?

What if they only see my mistakes?

This mindset keeps you stuck. Without feedback, you can’t see your blind spots, identify areas for improvement, or uncover your hidden strengths.

Reframing Feedback: An Act of Growth, Not Judgment

At its worst, feedback might feel like an attack, especially when it’s poorly delivered. Compassionate candor feels entirely different. It’s an approach that reframes feedback as an act of care:

It’s not about tearing you down but lifting you up

Feedback delivered with candor and care focuses on helping you improve, not diminishing your worth.

It’s not about perfection but progress

Inviting feedback helps you stay curious and committed to your development.

Consider this: Some of the most successful people don’t fear feedback—they actively seek it. They ask tough questions, listen carefully, and use the insights they gain to fuel their personal and professional growth.

How to Invite Compassionate Candor

Inviting compassionate candor requires openness and a willingness to view feedback as a tool for growth rather than criticism. Here’s how to request support from others:

Ask for feedback regularly

Waiting for valuable feedback until annual review time limits your opportunities to grow. Proactively seek feedback from colleagues, managers, and mentors with requests like:

“What’s one thing I could improve on to strengthen our team?”

“How did I handle that project, and what could I do better next time?”

Create a safe environment for feedback

Opening up to candor requires you to leave defensiveness behind and show gratitude for people’s honesty. Express appreciation by saying something like, “Thank you for pointing that out. I hadn’t seen it that way before.”

Look for patterns, not perfection

Not all the feedback you receive will land perfectly. But instead of sweeping aside the negative, look for recurring themes that might reveal opportunities to improve.

Pair feedback with self-reflection

Combining external feedback with your own observations creates a more complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses and allows you to set intentions for areas of growth.

The Art of Delivering Feedback with Compassionate Candor

Inviting feedback is only half of the equation—giving it matters, too! When done with care, providing feedback can help you strengthen relationships, build trust, and inspire growth in others. Here’s how to approach giving feedback with compassionate candor:

Lead with care

Compassionate candor centers on feedback intended to assist someone else’s growth—not your own goals or motivations. Before speaking up, reflect on your intentions for sharing: “Will sharing my feedback help this person thrive?”

Be specific and actionable

Vague feedback can be misunderstood or make someone feel discouraged. Sharing specific suggestions will make your feedback more useful: “I noticed that X happened in the meeting. Next time, you might try Y to better align with your goals.”

Balance honesty with empathy

Feedback isn’t just about what you say but how you say it. Feedback is best framed in a way that respects someone’s feelings while remaining honest: “I want to share this feedback because I care about you and your success.”

The Career-Changing Power of Compassionate Candor

When you invite, embrace, and practice compassionate candor, you can unlock:

• Faster growth. Giving and receiving feedback accelerates your learning and helps you avoid repeating mistakes.
• Deeper self-awareness. Seeing yourself through a different lens and reflecting on how you engage with others allows you to grow professionally and personally.
• Stronger relationships. Inviting and delivering feedback with candor fosters trust, collaboration, and mutual respect—both at work and at home.
• Greater fulfillment. Growth isn’t just about achieving more; it’s about becoming more. Candor empowers you to become more confident and connected to your values while helping others do the same.

Imagine your career as a journey and feedback as the signposts along the way. Without feedback, you’re navigating without direction. With compassionate candor, you can find your path and gain clarity on who you are and where you want to go.

Self-awareness is the springboard for growth, and compassionate candor provides the push to launch you forward. What type of feedback do you need right now? Who in your network can provide it with care? Take the first step by reaching out and inviting the conversation.

At Transitions Careers, we help people develop deeper self-awareness and find greater fulfillment. Ready to shift your mindset and unlock your potential? Learn more about Transitions Careers here and how we can support you on your journey.