Something to doFeedback
Tell someone what their feedback changed
A micro habit that makes honest feedback easier to give you next time
Why it’s worth your time
Giving honest feedback is a small risk, and most people never find out whether it helped. Telling them what you changed answers that question, and it's the clearest sign you can send that they should keep being straight with you. It matters most for the feedback that was hardest to give, and to hear.
How to follow up after feedback you acted on
You’ll come away with a colleague who knows their honesty made a difference.
We’ll turn this into a checklist you can tick off.
- Think of feedback you've acted on.
Something someone told you in the last few months that you changed, even partly. Feedback that stung at the time often counts most.
- Name what you changed, and what happened.
One or two sentences. Specific is what makes it land: what you do differently now, and what came of it, if anything did.
You“You told me my updates buried the decision. I've been leading with the ask since, and last week's meeting was the shortest we've had.” - Thank them for saying it.
Especially if it wasn't easy to say. Acknowledging that is part of the point.
You“I know that wasn't an easy thing to tell me, so thank you.” - Send it however is natural.
A message, a line at the end of a 1:1, a word after a meeting. It doesn't need to be formal.
To: someone whose feedback you usedA while back you told me the feedback. I wanted you to know I took it to heart: I've been what you changed, and what happened, if anything.
I know that isn't always an easy thing to say, so thank you. I'd welcome more like it anytime.
Swap the highlighted parts for your thing. Works on Slack, in email, or said out loud.Tip: Keep it about them and what they said. A note that ends with a new request reads as something else.
Good moments for this: a few weeks after acting on feedbackwhen a change starts to show resultsin your next 1:1, if it came from your manager
We’ll turn this into a checklist you can tick off.
Keep going with Truest
Small actions add up. Truest helps you find the next thing worth doing, make the space to do it, and keep a record of your progress. It’s a private place to work on your career, and it’s yours, not your employer’s.
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Anything else we can help you with this week?
Making it work for you
Every workplace is different. Here’s what to think about before you start, and what might get in the way.
Things to think about
They said something, it went into a void, and they're left wondering whether it helped or offended. Your note answers that.
What might make this harder
Mention it in your next 1:1. Managers rarely hear that their input changed something, and it tells them what kind of input works with you.
Questions people ask
How do I thank someone for constructive feedback?
Tell them what you changed because of it and, if you can, what happened. Specific follow-through means more than a general thanks.
Should I tell my manager I acted on their feedback?
Yes. A line in your next 1:1 tells them their input was useful and shows you follow through, which tends to make them more candid next time.
What does closing the loop on feedback mean?
Going back to the person who gave you feedback and telling them what you did with it. It shows them their honesty was worth it.
What if I didn't agree with all of their feedback?
Mention the part you used. You don't need to explain the rest.
Why this works, and where it comes from
Think about the last time you told someone something honest about their work. Did you find out what they did with it? Most of the time, people don't. Honest feedback usually disappears into silence, and silence reads as either it didn't matter or it didn't go down well. Either way, the next time they notice something, they're a little less likely to say it.
A short note ends that silence. It tells the other person exactly what their input changed, which is information they almost never get. It also rewards the specific thing you want more of, which is them telling you the truth. It works on the same principle as any good thank-you: people tend to repeat what they know was valued.
It matters most for feedback that stung. The person who told you something hard took a real risk with the relationship. If the next thing they hear from you is that it helped, the relationship is often stronger than before they said anything. Using feedback well happens in private; letting people see it is what earns you the next piece.
Keep it simple and honest. You don't need a success story or a full account. You tried it, here's what you noticed, thank you. If you used only part of it, mention that part. The point isn't to prove you changed. It's to let someone know that telling you the truth was worth it.
Other simple things to consider
More in Feedback
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An exercise written by Truest, based on our experience. Last updated October 2, 2026. We sell a career membership; where that’s relevant above, we say so.