At Level 3, you are actively shaping the feedback culture on your team. You give high-quality, actionable feedback that strengthens products, processes, and people. You've developed the confidence to deliver difficult messages constructively—and the humility to welcome the same in return. You're often a go-to reviewer for tricky code, design decisions, or communication strategies because people trust your insight and tone.
Key Behaviors
- Delivers feedback that improves not just the outcome but the person
- Addresses sensitive topics with clarity and compassion
- Spots patterns and trends in a teammate's work and provides growth-oriented feedback
- Gives structured, detailed feedback during design or strategy reviews
- Creates space for others to give *you* honest feedback
Common Struggles
- Risk of becoming overly critical or prescriptive
- May under-communicate praise when focused on improvement
- Might assume others are as comfortable with feedback as you are
Success Indicators
You know you're successful when you:
- Use feedback to raise the bar on quality, thoughtfulness, and collaboration
- Adapt your style based on the person and the situation
- Give feedback that is remembered, acted on, and appreciated
- Model how to receive feedback with humility and grace
Mindset Shift
From:
"I give helpful feedback."
To:
"I help create a team where feedback flows freely and constructively."
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Who gets feedback regularly—and who might be left out?
- Are we surfacing tensions early enough to act on them?
- How can we create habits that normalize high-quality feedback?
Build These Habits
- 1Champion feedback in rituals like retros, 1:1s, and design critiques
- 2Offer feedback upward or cross-functionally with respect and clarity
- 3Highlight feedback that led to improvements or changed your perspective
Seek Feedback
- "Was that feedback helpful, or did it feel too strong/soft?"
- "How do you prefer to receive feedback on your work?"
- "What kind of feedback would help me support you better?"
Signals You're Ready to Level Up
- People credit your feedback with helping them grow
- Others emulate your style in how they give and receive feedback
- Feedback becomes easier, more honest, and more useful across your team
Focus Summary
- Give with care
- Ask with intention
- Build a feedback culture that lasts
At Level 3, you're raising the quality and frequency of feedback around you. Your input builds people up—even when it's tough to hear—and your example sets the tone for others.