How to give the gift of feedback, with Katie Ceccarini

How to give the gift of feedback, with Katie Ceccarini

From We Not Me by Dan Hammond & Pia Lee

May 21, 2026 · 38 min · Episode 142

About this episode

Dan and Pia discuss the challenges of giving feedback with leadership coach Katie Ceccarini, exploring how to make feedback constructive and less intimidating.

🎧 Three reasons to listen Make feedback less scary and more useful – learn why most feedback triggers defensiveness and how to avoid it Get a practical framework you can use immediately – mindset, relationship, and delivery Handle difficult conversations with confidence – be honest and direct without damaging trust Episode overview In this episode, Dan and Pia are joined by Katie O’Brien Ceccarini , leadership coach and author of Fearless Feedback , to tackle one of the most challenging aspects of leadership: feedback. They explore why feedback often creates fear and resistance—and how to reframe it as a constructive, human conversation. Katie shares her Fearless Feedback framework , focusing on mindset, trust, and practical delivery, helping leaders move from awkward, avoided conversations to clear, confident, and growth-oriented dialogue . Memorable moments “No, I’m not.” – Katie’s honest story of being labelled defensive (while feeling embarrassed internally) The finding that 90% of people don’t want to hear “Can I give you feedback?” The “food in your teeth” analogy for why feedback should be timely A powerful reframe: “Feedback without action is criticism.” The shift from…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dan Hammond, Pia Lee

Guest: Katie O’Brien Ceccarini

Topics covered

  • feedback
  • leadership
  • communication
  • trust
  • mindset

Keywords

  • feedback
  • leadership
  • communication
  • trust
  • mindset
  • difficult conversations
  • constructive criticism

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Fearless Feedback

More episodes of We Not Me

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the We Not Me podcast page.