Leadership and Life Essentials: Lost in Translation - Why Your Feedback Isn't Landing
Feedback fails not because of bad content, but because leaders deliver it the way they want to receive it—ignoring how others actually process criticism. Jackie Serginer-Galeoni reveals that the Golden Rule backfires in feedback conversations, while the Platinum Rule—treating others as they want to be treated—transforms effectiveness. Using the DISC framework, she breaks down four behavioral styles: Dominance (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C), each with distinct feedback preferences. A D-style needs direct, results-focused delivery; an I-style craves warmth and relationship context; an S-style requires gentle, advance notice to avoid defensiveness; and a C-style demands structure, evidence, and time to process. The real power lies in flexing your style intentionally—small adjustments like adding one sentence of context or writing down the core message beforehand—can prevent defensiveness and ensure the message lands. This isn’t about being inauthentic; it’s about emotional intelligence in action. The episode ends with a practical challenge: review a recent feedback conversation, identify both your style and the other person’s, and apply one DISC-based adjustment next time. Jackie emphasizes that the most underused part of the DISC report—its communication guide—is the key to unlocking better leadership conversations. This isn’t just about giving feedback; it’s about creating psychological safety and trust through intentional adaptation.
Switch from the Golden Rule to the Platinum Rule: adapt feedback delivery to how the other person wants to receive it, not how you would.
Use DISC styles (D, I, S, C) to identify how people process feedback—your default style may be causing miscommunication.
High Ds need direct, concise feedback; high Is need relationship warmth before criticism; high Ss need advance notice and gentle delivery; high Cs need structure, evidence, and time to process.
Small, intentional adjustments—like writing down the core message or adding one sentence of context—can prevent defensiveness and improve impact.
The last 8–9 pages of your DISC report contain a practical communication guide—use it before tough feedback conversations.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Feedback Problem: Why It’s Not About What You Say
“You delivered it the way you would want to receive it, not the way the person in front of you needed to hear it.”
The Golden Rule Fails in Feedback
Jackie explains why treating others as you want to be treated backfires in feedback—people don’t all process criticism the same way, and assuming they do leads to defensiveness and miscommunication.
The Platinum Rule: Adapt to the Listener
Introducing the Platinum Rule—treat others as they want to be treated—as the foundation of effective feedback. Emotional intelligence means adjusting your delivery to match the listener’s communication style.
DISC Styles: The Foundation of Feedback Flexibility
A brief overview of the four DISC styles—Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness—and how each has a natural feedback preference. Awareness of these styles is the first step to adaptation.
Style-by-Style Feedback Breakdown
“To an S or an I style, a D style delivering feedback like that can feel like being called into the principal's office.”
“Adapting your style isn’t about being inauthentic. It’s about caring enough about the other person to meet them where they are.”
“The issue is the delivery and specifically the fact that you delivered it the way you would want to receive it. not the way the person in front of you needed to hear it.”
“To an S or an I style, a D style delivering feedback like that can feel like being called into the principal's office.”
Host
DISC
other
Jackie Serginer-Galeoni
person
Dominance
other
Conscientiousness
other
Influence
other
Steadiness
other
Platinum Rule
other
Leadership and Life by KREC Inc.
organization
Golden Rule
other
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