Engagement for Growth: The Value of Feedback vs. Feedforward
- Tish Looper
- Apr 30
- 2 min read
Updated: May 2
Typically, I center my posts on broader strategies and insights. Recently, a personal experience led me to reflect more intentionally on the role and importance of feedback, not just in driving continuous improvement, but in accelerating growth and shaping future outcomes. I personally always look at these moments as opportunities for growth in my life, both personal and in business. In leadership and business, the ability to seek, interpret, and act on feedback is a critical advantage, one that separates progress from stagnation. In personal life, it helps us take an internal assessment and develop new insights into how we think, feel, or manage our own goals.
Feedback is challenging. It takes skill to listen to it, and even more skill to deliver it well. Yet it is not something we regularly practice. While feedback helps us understand the past, the real opportunity lies in how we apply it to shape what is ahead. That is where feedforward becomes essential. Rather than focusing solely on what was, feedforward shifts the conversation toward future potential, enabling individuals, leaders, and teams to move with greater clarity, purpose, and momentum.
This concept of feedforward came up in one of my upcoming podcast conversations, and it struck me how often we talk about feedback but rarely about how we feedforward. There is a real gap in how we think about growth, not just professionally, but personally. Understanding the distinction can change how we approach learning, leadership, and day-to-day relationships. It provides us with more opportunities to progress, with less judgment and a stronger impact.
To help clarify the difference between feedback and feedforward:
Feedback is something most of us are familiar with. It is looking back to assess what worked, what did not, and what could have been done differently. It is valuable when it is delivered well, but it is rooted in the past.
Feedforward, on the other hand, is about focusing ahead. It is the process of taking what we know and using it to shape better outcomes moving forward. It is not about revisiting mistakes; it is about creating possibilities. When we start thinking in terms of feedforward, we shift the conversation from critique to coaching, from judgment to growth. That shift changes everything, whether you are leading a business, building a team, or working on becoming a better version of yourself. It can be far more empowering.
When we embrace the idea of feedforward, we start operating with a different mindset. We stop viewing feedback as a final verdict and start seeing it as a starting point for what comes next. In business, this means building teams that are resilient, innovative, and future-focused. Personally, it means giving ourselves the grace to grow without being held hostage by yesterday’s mistakes. Feedforward moves us from reflection to action, and that is where real growth happens.
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