Women Get “Nicer” Feedback And It Holds Them Back

When was the last time you gave someone critical feedback? Do you think you gave it fairly and equitably? Chances are, if you were giving feedback to a woman, you may have “softened” your message. In this piece in the Harvard Business Review, authors Lily Jampol, Aneeta Rattan, and Elizabeth Baily Wolf explain how bias can creep into the messages given to men versus women when delivering feedback, and how it has consequences for women’s career progression as well as contributing to toxic workplace cultures.

Women, pay attention to the feedback that you are being given. Is it actionable? Is it objective? Are you being held back from growth opportunities unfairly? Ask for the feedback that you need and you deserve. And managers/mentors, pay attention to the weight of your words. It all matters.