[wilburm]

I have similar thoughts all the time. What behaviors are incentivized and what are punished? And it has little to do what leadership says and a lot to do with what it does, and we all know those can be drastically at odds with one another.

[cinooo]

What I’ve realized is that a positive feedback environment isn’t just beneficial —it’s essential. When feedback is only about improvement (which is already a tough skill for managers to get right), employees start associating their actions with negative reinforcement. Over time, this conditions them to avoid risk, stay quiet, and play it safe — not because they were told to, but because they’ve learned that speaking up doesn’t feel worth it.

On the other hand, an environment that practices positive feedback doesn’t just recognize good work — it reinforces behaviors that encourage growth, confidence, and innovation. Over time, this creates a workplace where employees feel safe to take risks and contribute freely, rather than holding back.