In Why Software Teams Struggle with Feedback (and How to Fix It), we tackled a common issue—teams avoiding feedback, delaying it, or giving it in ways that don’t help. But feedback is a two-way street. It’s not just about giving feedback effectively; it’s about how well teams and individuals receive it. Because even the best feedback is useless if it’s ignored, dismissed, or taken the wrong way.

Why Receiving Feedback is Hard

Nobody likes to hear they’ve made a mistake. Even in the best environments, feedback can trigger defensiveness. People take it personally. They focus on who said it instead of what was said. And in fast-paced software teams, where deadlines are tight and pressure is high, feedback can feel more like a disruption than an opportunity to improve.

But when teams don’t know how to accept feedback, they:

• Miss valuable learning moments.

• Repeat the same mistakes, increasing technical debt.

• Create a culture where people hesitate to speak up, fearing backlash

How to Build a Culture That Embraces Feedback

Great teams don’t just encourage feedback—they welcome it. Here’s how to make sure feedback is received in a way that drives real improvement.

• Detach feedback from ego. Feedback is about the work, not personal worth. The best teams see feedback as a tool for growth, not an attack.

• Ask for feedback before it’s given. When developers and designers actively seek input, it removes the stigma. Instead of waiting for a review to point out issues, they ask: What can I improve?

• Respond with curiosity, not defensiveness. Instead of explaining why a decision was made, try asking: How would you approach it differently?

• Follow up on feedback. A culture of feedback only works when action is taken. If issues are raised but never addressed, trust in the process erodes.

At DevRoom, Feedback is a Conversation

We believe feedback is most powerful when it’s a habit, not an event. We make it part of everything—stand-ups, code reviews, retrospectives. But most importantly, we teach teams how to receive feedback just as well as they give it.

Feedback only works when it’s used to improve, not ignored or resisted. When teams embrace feedback as a tool rather than a threat, they unlock a new level of collaboration and quality.

Conclusion

If feedback is the backbone of improvement, then knowing how to receive it is just as important as knowing how to give it. Teams that listen, learn, and apply feedback consistently build better software—and stronger working relationships.

At DevRoom, every step of the way is guided by feedback. If your team struggles with feedback loops, we can help turn them into a strength. Let’s build something better, together.