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How do you give honest, critical feedback without losing your best people?

That’s the question we tackle in this week’s episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast, as host Corey Harlock sits down with Cortney Watson, leadership coach and former COO who helped scale a D.C.-based consulting firm from $10 million to $40 million. Cortney knows firsthand how fast growth can outpace structure—and how poor feedback habits can quietly destroy a company’s momentum.

Together, Corey and Cortney unpack why most small business owners avoid critical conversations, and how that avoidance leads to stalled growth, poor culture, and frustrated teams. Cortney shares her proven strategies for building a culture of continuous feedback—one where input flows in both directions, and where accountability is seen as support, not punishment.

Cortney explains why feedback shouldn’t just “go down” from leader to employee—it should go up, too. When employees can safely share input with their managers, everyone grows. That’s how small businesses evolve from founder-driven operations into scalable, self-sustaining organizations.

In this candid conversation, Corey and Cortney dig into practical frameworks that any small business can implement, including:

• How to establish trust before tough conversations
• Why timing and tone are everything when giving feedback
• The pitfalls of waiting too long to address performance issues
• How to avoid the dreaded “feedback sandwich” and get real results
• How strong feedback habits directly impact growth and retention

They also discuss the deeper side of leadership—what happens when owners let frustration fester, when they fail to hold poor performers accountable, and when they accidentally drive away their top talent. Cortney shares how she helps leaders recognize those patterns early, and replace them with healthy, repeatable habits that build trust and performance over time.

Whether you’re running a five-person shop or managing a fast-scaling team, this episode will give you the language and mindset you need to start leading with clarity and confidence. Because great feedback isn’t criticism—it’s coaching. And when you learn to coach your people well, you unlock the potential that drives your business forward.

Tune in now to learn how to stop avoiding hard conversations, start building stronger teams, and finally create a culture where people want to stay and grow.

Connect with the Experts

Learn More about Cortney: https://cortneywatson.focalpointcoaching.com/

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The KeyHire Key Owner Stage Assessment helps small business owners understand where they are in their growth journey and what to focus on next. In just a few minutes, you’ll uncover what’s holding you back and get a clear path to move forward with confidence.

Take the free assessment now at keyhire.solutions/assessment