Dear diary, today I learned that
giving positive feedback is as equally important as corrective one
Why positive feedback matters
Imagine you’re hiking a trail in the mountains. Every so often, you see a painted sign on a tree confirming that you’re still on the right path. Without those signs, you’d only find out you’re off-track when you’re completely lost.
That’s what positive feedback is—it’s a trail marker that says, “Yes, keep going, this is the right direction.”
If we only correct people when something goes wrong, we’re like that strict parent who only speaks up when you mess up. It sends an unspoken message: “Being perfect is the default; I’ll only talk to you when you fail.”
The impact on the receiver
From the perspective of the person receiving the feedback, positive reinforcement can:
- Boost motivation – It feels good to know that what you’re doing makes sense.
- Create clarity – Instead of guessing, you get a clear signal: this behavior is valuable, repeat it.
- Build connection – You feel seen and appreciated. Not just managed.
And on a more emotional level, it simply puts you in a better mood. And better mood possibly leads to better work.
The impact on the giver
Here’s something I didn’t expect: regularly giving positive feedback is actually training for myself.
It forces me to notice small wins. It makes me pay attention to what is working. It nudges me to become more optimistic and enthusiastic—not in a fake way, but because I’m tuning into good signals, not just flaws.
That practice compounds. It changes how I see my team. How I see our progress. How I lead.
TL;DR
- Give both corrective and positive feedback.
- Corrective feedback prevents mistakes. Positive feedback reinforces good behavior.
- Only giving corrective feedback creates an atmosphere of pressure and fear.
- Positive feedback gives direction, motivation, and a sense of recognition.
- As a leader, noticing and naming the good things sharpens your own lens, too.
Thanks for reading LED — Lead Engineer’s Diary. If this resonated, share it with someone who’s also figuring it out as they go. Find all posts from the series here.
