81% of People Have Experienced Harmful Feedback

An interesting piece of research that might make leaders think about their feedback conversations.

In “When Feedback Crosses the Line,” published in Harvard Business Review on March 3, 2026, researchers Bin Zhao, Rebecca L. Dunkailo, Judith Clair and Ryan L. Boyd shared findings from 402 full time U.S. employees. 81% said they had experienced destructive criticism at work, and over 78% described feedback so hurtful they remembered it vividly, sometimes years later.

That tells us something important.

People are not always wary of feedback because they are fragile. Many are wary because they have learnt that feedback can feel belittling, unfair, humiliating or unsafe. Unfortunately for some people, it’s their lived experience.

The Feedback Fitness Framework offers leaders a better way: the Warm Up, the Work Out, and the Cool Down provide safety in the structure. It is the structure that helps leaders offer feedback with more trust, more clarity and less friction.

The Warm Up matters because feedback should never feel like a surprise. It is the upstream conversation where you talk about feedback before you are in the middle of a performance issue. You discuss preferences, expectations, intentions, and what helps the other person stay open.

Then comes the Work Out. This is where the feedback itself is offered. My role is to help leaders get clear about whether they are offering Acknowledgement feedback, Evaluation feedback and/or Guidance feedback.

The Cool Down is the part many leaders skip. Yet it is the part that helps protect the relationship and keep the conversation going.

The future of feedback is not about becoming softer. It is about becoming more skilful.

Research source: Bin Zhao, Rebecca L. Dunkailo, Judith Clair and Ryan L. Boyd, “When Feedback Crosses the Line,” Harvard Business Review, March 3, 2026.

If you’re ready to become Feedback Fit, Book a 30-minute complimentary discussion with Sue and discover how to create a feedback-rich culture that keeps your best people growing and thriving.

P.S. Forward this to a leader who could benefit from this weekly update. It’s an easy way to support their leadership growth and help more teams become Feedback Fit.