Episode 3

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Published on:

10th Oct 2026

Feedblacklash “Please Be Honest”… Just Not Like That

Have you ever asked someone for completely honest feedback, then immediately started explaining why they’ve got it wrong? We say we want honesty, but sometimes what we really want is reassurance delivered in the shape of feedback. In this episode of Leadruption, Emma Last explores Feedblacklash, what happens when the feedback we asked for turns out to be more honest than we expected.

In this episode, we explore:

  • What Feedblacklash is, and why asking for honest feedback is very different from being ready to receive it.
  • How easily we can respond to feedback with context, explanation, justification or a quiet internal appeal against the verdict.
  • Why defensiveness can unintentionally teach people that honesty is welcome only when it is comfortable.
  • The difference between asking for reassurance and genuinely asking for information that might challenge how we see ourselves.
  • Two questions to consider: When you ask for feedback, are you really asking for information or reassurance? And what have your previous reactions taught people about how safe it is to be honest with you?

Want more Leadruption?

Come and join Emma in Leadruption PodChat to continue the conversation, explore the Say–Do Gap and discover more words from The Leadruptionary.

You’ll also find the Say–Do Gap White Paper there if you want to go deeper into the gap between leadership intention and lived experience.

https://emmalast.com/leadruption-podchat

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About the Podcast

Leadruption
Ever wondered whether people experience your leadership the way you think they do?

Leadruption explores the funny, frustrating, and occasionally uncomfortable contradictions hiding inside modern leadership.
Hosted by Emma Last, Informed Leadership consultant, People Director and speaker. This is leadership development with less corporate nonsense and a little more humanity.
Each short episode explores one idea, behaviour, or Leadruptionary word, from difficult conversations and decision-making to trust, culture, AI, authority, and the everyday habits that quietly shape how people experience us.
It’s for leaders of businesses, people, communities, and movements who want sharper judgement, stronger trust, and a more informed way to lead.
Expect humour, disruption, honest reflection, and the occasional “Oh heck. I do that.”
New 5–6 minute podshots every weekday morning.

About your host

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Emma Last

Emma Last is a Informed Leadership Consultant , People Director and Speaker with over 25 years’ experience supporting leaders build results with responsibility. The founder of Leadruption, creator of the Informed Leadership Standards™ and developer of The Say-Do Gap.

Before founding Progressive Minds in 2018, Emma held senior leadership roles and spent more than two decades working across people development, leadership, business development, and organisational change.

Because leadership isn't what we intend, Leadership is what people experience. If we strengthen Results With responsibility we will build trusted authority.

25+ years in leadership and people strategy | 300+ clients | DfE quality-assured work | 40+ media features