Introduction
Imagine a theatre troupe preparing for opening night. Every rehearsal is an opportunity to refine the performance—not just for the actors, but for the entire team, from the director to the stagehands. The same principle applies to organizations: every day is a rehearsal for the greater performance of business, and feedback is the script that helps guide improvement.
Feedback Is Everywhere
Feedback is not confined to formal reviews or one-on-one meetings. It’s present in every facet of business:
- Landing a client provides feedback on the success of your sales approach.
- Losing a client signals misalignment or a need for adjustment.
- Internal team dynamics reveal opportunities for clarity and growth.
Recognizing feedback as information—free from judgment—is the first step in turning it into actionable insight. Feedback increases awareness, which in turn fosters clarity and enables better decisions.
Rehearsals: The Practice of Iteration
In a company committed to growth, embracing continuous change is essential. Small, iterative adjustments based on feedback allow teams to rehearse their way to success. Much like actors testing different line deliveries or blocking during rehearsal, organizations refine their strategies, processes, and interactions to align with their goals.
Every interaction—whether it’s a team meeting, a client call, or a daily task—becomes a performance. At the end of the day, leaders and teams can reflect:
- What went well?
- What didn’t go as planned?
- What adjustments could improve tomorrow’s performance?
These daily reflections build a culture of curiosity and improvement, where feedback is seen as an opportunity, not a critique.
The Role of Curiosity
Curiosity is the engine that transforms feedback into growth. Without it, feedback often becomes clouded by judgment. Consider this: when receiving feedback, how often do we immediately jump to conclusions about its cause, effect, and solution?
A curious mindset reframes this process, prompting questions like:
- What is the source of this feedback?
- Are there underlying causes I haven’t considered?
- How can others’ perspectives expand my understanding?
Curiosity unlocks deeper insights, encouraging leaders and teams to approach feedback as an invitation to discover rather than a problem to solve.
A Hypothetical Example: The Feedback Script in Action
Let’s take the example of a marketing team struggling to launch a new campaign. After presenting their strategy to leadership, they receive mixed reactions. Instead of rushing to defend their work, the team applies the feedback-as-rehearsal approach.
- Step 1: Acknowledge the Feedback
The team records all feedback without judgment, noting both positive and negative points. - Step 2: Reflect Curiously
They ask themselves questions:- Why did this approach resonate with some and not others?
- Are there external factors influencing perceptions?
- What assumptions did we make that need revisiting?
- Step 3: Iterate and Improve
Using the feedback, they refine their strategy, test new ideas in smaller groups, and return with a more polished presentation.
Through this process, the team not only strengthens their campaign but also builds trust and collaboration, mirroring the dynamics of a theatre ensemble refining a performance.
Feedback Is a Compass, Not a Judgment
When feedback is viewed as part of the rehearsal process, it shifts from being a source of stress to a tool for alignment and growth. Leaders who embrace this mindset model a culture where feedback becomes a shared responsibility, fostering trust and innovation across teams.
As you step into your next “rehearsal,” ask yourself:
- How can I approach feedback with curiosity today?
- What small, iterative changes could improve my performance or my team’s alignment?
Remember, every rehearsal brings you closer to the performance you want to deliver.