What makes feedback useful instead of just emotional?

In this Skills Spotlight episode of The Leader Lab, Kathy Pearce, Facilitator at LifeLabs Learning, joins host Micaela Mathre to unpack the Playing Cards Method™,  one of LifeLabs’ most memorable frameworks for turning blurry feedback into clear, actionable communication.

Using the four suits in a deck of cards, Kathy explains how Hearts and Clubs represent vague praise and criticism, while Diamonds and Spades point to the specific behaviors someone should keep doing or change.

Kathy shares practical workplace examples, including how managers can give clearer feedback about AI-generated work, why public Diamonds can create ripple effects across teams, and how “Diamond Days” help organizations build stronger feedback habits.

🎧 Tune in to learn:

• Why “great job” and “that was terrible” are equally unhelpful
• How to turn Hearts into Diamonds and Clubs into Spades
• Why specific praise helps teams replicate great work
• How to avoid leading with assumptions in feedback conversations
• What managers often get wrong when giving feedback about AI
• Why feedback skills require constant practice, even for experts
• How shared language makes feedback easier to recognize and improve

A thoughtful, practical conversation for managers, People leaders, and teams who want feedback to create clarity instead of confusion.