Praise Publicly and Criticize Privately? Group meetings may be the best place to deliver constructive feedback. Here’s why. Matt Hunter • February 3, 2026 Most leaders follow the old adage “Praise publicly, criticize privately,” and for good reason. This approach protects morale, avoids public shaming, and makes it easier for feedback to land without triggering defensiveness. It’s a rule that prioritizes psychological safety, and in many environments, it works well. This is a solid rubric for...
5 days ago • 5 min read
The Right Way to Hold People Accountable Feedback without follow-through often falls flat. As a leader, you have to be willing to enforce real consequences. Matt Hunter • January 20, 2026 The ability to deliver feedback and follow through with consequences are two of the core qualities of effective accountability. This comes up all the time in my coaching practice. Almost every week, I speak with leaders who are hesitant to give tough feedback—or are even more hesitant to enforce...
18 days ago • 2 min read
The Number-One Sign of a Toxic Workplace Workplace drama isn’t harmless. It’s a culture problem. Matt Hunter • January 6, 2026 When it comes to drama, tough leaders have a zero-tolerance policy. Back-channeling, gossiping, rumors, and politicking happen in almost every organization—but tough leaders know that these behaviors aren’t harmless. They’re signals that something is off. If you start to catch the whiff of drama in your organization, it’s a signal that something is not right in the...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Don’t Be Afraid of Praise A quick guide to motivate your people with the right amount of positive feedback. Matt Hunter • December 16, 2025 If you’re a reader of The Unlock, you know we talk a lot about feedback: how to give it, why it matters, and why it’s one of the most powerful tools a leader has. And we’re not just talking about constructive feedback. We’re also talking about praise. Surprisingly, many leaders I work with struggle more with positive feedback than criticism. They fear...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Embracing the Rhythm of Rupture and Repair The real magic in any relationship—whether between partners, teammates, or co-founders—isn’t avoiding conflict. It’s knowing how to repair it. Matt Hunter • December 2, 2025 Passionate debates, disagreements, and even heated arguments aren’t something to be avoided in your organization. They’re inevitable when people care deeply about the work. But what separates great teams and strong working relationships from dysfunctional ones is their ability to...
2 months ago • 2 min read
May the Best Idea Win Getting to the best idea or decision means always being willing to confront the brutal reality of the situation. Matt Hunter • November 18, 2025 One of the defining qualities of great leaders (which we’ve talked about a lot in this newsletter) is their insistence on seeking out the truth, no matter how brutal it is. Leaders who avoid the brutal facts risk making decisions based on illusions. But those who seek the truth, no matter how hard it is to hear, position...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Constant feedback is the secret superpower of great leaders Don’t hoard feedback. Give it freely, consistently and in real time to build trust and drive performance. Matt Hunter • November 4, 2025 Feedback is a major performance driver. Great leaders know this, and they don’t hold back with offering both positive and negative feedback. It’s the gift that keeps on giving: the more feedback you give, the more you get back from your people in improvement, performance and results. Feedback, when...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Naming what you see is one of the most powerful acts of leadership If you’re a leader, you can’t afford to keep your judgments to yourself. Here’s why. Matt Hunter • October 7, 2025 We’re all guilty of silently judging others in the privacy of our own minds. In most interpersonal contexts, that’s not a behavior you want to indulge in too much. But in business, there’s real value to giving voice to your private judgments—and there’s a right way to do it. In fact, the willingness to candidly...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Leadership Isn't Supposed to Make You (or Anyone Else) Feel Good If you’re doing it right, there will be pain. You will piss people off. Great leaders learn to embrace the discomfort. Matt Hunter • September 23, 2025 Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia—the technology giant worth over $4 trillion—famously said, “If you want to be great, I wish you lots of pain and suffering.” It’s a bold statement, but he meant it. In fact, Jensen later admitted that if he knew how hard it would be to build Nvidia, he...
5 months ago • 4 min read
The Trap of Lazy Candor Why unfiltered honesty can damage trust and what real candor requires Matt Hunter • September 9, 2025 Candor—the ability to speak frankly, openly, and honestly—is a powerful tool. When overdone, however, it can become harmful. And when used without intention, it becomes lazy. The appeal of “I’m just being honest” becomes a defense for communication that lacks mindfulness and intentionality. True candor isn't about dumping every unfiltered thought or feeling just...
5 months ago • 2 min read