The Art of Giving Feedback: Valuing People, Getting Results – McManus
Abstract:
Feedback is one of the most powerful tools a project manager can use, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Whether you’re managing clients, leading a project team, or working solo across departments, a steady flow of feedback is essential to keeping both people and projects moving forward. Too often, feedback is treated as a “tough conversation” instead of a necessary one, which can lead to miscommunication, mistrust, and missed opportunities. This session reframes feedback as an act of value and empowerment, a way to strengthen trust, enhance collaboration, and drive results. Participants will gain practical tools to redefine feedback as connection rather than correction, explore how directness can be delivered with care, and learn to root feedback in a person’s value instead of softening it with surface-level compliments. Grounded in Stephen M.R. Covey’s concept of Emotional Bank Accounts, this session helps project managers at every level understand how intentional, value-centered feedback can deposit into trust while still addressing challenges. Participants will leave equipped to give feedback that empowers growth, strengthens relationships, and creates environments where accountability and appreciation can thrive side by side.
Key Takeaways:
- Redefine feedback from “tough” to necessary—an opportunity to connect, not correct.
- Learn how to give feedback that deposits into trust and strengthens relationships.
- Understand how to root feedback in value to empower others and help them find their voice.
PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills
