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070 Why Giving Feedback Isn’t Mean, It Makes You a Great Leader

with

Dawn Andrews

Show notes

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Show notes

If giving feedback makes you feel like the bad guy… let me ask you this: when was the last time silence got you the result you actually wanted?

In this quick hit, I’m sharing the story of a client who learned—painfully—that staying quiet to “protect” someone’s feelings can backfire in a big way. And I get it. You built your business on excellence and empathy. But here’s the truth: silence isn’t empathy. It’s sabotage.

I’m here to help you shift your mindset, drop the guilt, and stop cleaning up everyone else’s messes. Because when you avoid feedback, you’re not being kind, you’re avoiding discomfort. And that’s not leadership. That’s self-preservation in a really nice blazer. So if you’re ready to lead with clarity (not chaos), hit play. This one’s short, sharp, and straight to the point.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

  • Why silence in leadership isn’t empathy, it’s sabotage.
  • How delaying feedback erodes trust more than delivering it ever could.
  • A flashlight vs. flamethrower mindset shift that will change the way you lead.
  • The surprising truth about what your team really needs from you

This episode at a glance:

[2:32] – It wasn’t the truth that hurt her employee. It was the delay in giving it that did.

[3:03] –  Think of feedback like the flashlight, not the flamethrower.

[3:24] – Your team doesn’t need your approval. They need your calibration.

[3:51] – That’s the difference between being liked and being respected.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

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More about the “She’s that founder” podcast

Welcome to She’s That Founder, the podcast for ambitious women who are ready to stop drowning in decisions and start running their businesses like the confident CEOs they were born to be with the help of AI magic.

I’m your host, Dawn Andrews—executive coach, business strategist, and founder of Free Range Thinking. I’m also a proud female leader, mom, and mentor who believes scaling a business shouldn’t come at the cost of your sanity.

Each week, we dig into the real tools and strategies you need to scale smarter, not harder: faster delegationsystems that won’t collapse if you take a nap, and AI tools that actually lighten your load instead of adding to it.

You’ll hear proven revenue strategies, executive leadership frameworks, and practical tools to build a business that grows without burning you out.

We keep it real here—expect candid conversations, quick hits, and the occasional founder rant. Listener discretion is advised (because we don’t always bleep the swear words).

If you like what you hear, make sure to follow along so you never miss an episode. And before you go, leave us a review—it means the world and helps more women founders step fully into their CEO power.

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