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Nobody enjoys being told they’re doing something wrong, but delivering that feedback isn’t easy either.
Philipp Navratil has worked at Nestl茅 for over twenty years. Early in his leadership journey, he received advice that changed his management style: provide honest feedback.
The CEO of the company that owns more than 30 billion鈥慸ollar brands, such as Nespresso and DiGiorno, said that when he first took on leadership, he found it hard to tell employees when their performance was lacking.
“It’s easy to tell someone ‘Great job, well done,'” Navratil told Themoneytimes.
The difficult part is speaking up when things go wrong, he said. He tries to be as direct as possible because beating around the bush can cause people to miss the point.
“It’s much more valuable for them to receive it that way because it’s clear,” Navratil said.
Today, Navratil says he views feedback as one of a leader’s most critical duties, not only because it benefits the company but also because it helps employees develop.
Being direct doesn’t have to be harsh. Navratil says he offers criticism but then spends more time discussing how to improve the situation, such as asking the person how he can help or proposing a solution they can tackle together.
Even though such conversations can feel awkward or uncomfortable, they can bring you closer to the person. Navratil notes that feedback talks foster stronger personal bonds because they involve follow鈥憉p discussions.
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Ana covers workplace trends, career advice, and how artificial intelligence is changing software engineering roles. She frequently interviews C鈥憇uite leaders about their career paths and leadership insights.
Ana hosts “Get Better at Work,” a series offering tips on habits and behaviors that help professionals stand out and advance their careers, and she also hosts “Work Shift,” which recaps the week’s major workplace news. She holds a master’s degree in multimedia journalism from NYU and has been featured on BBC, NPR, and other international media outlets.
If you have a tip, you can reach her by email at aaltchek@themoneytimes.com or via the Signal messaging app at aalt.19.