23/08/2026
Style-based feedback focuses on how someone communicates or behaves rather than the substance of their work. For women, it can sound like: “You’re too aggressive.” “You need to be warmer.” “You’re too emotional.” “You’re not confident enough.”
Over time, feedback like this can leave women spending more energy thinking about how they’re being perceived – and less energy focused on the work itself. It can also reinforce a narrow set of expectations about how women are “supposed” to behave at work: confident, but not too confident. Assertive, but not too assertive. Warm, but still authoritative.
This is why transparency matters. When we talk about biased feedback, we make it easier to recognize it, challenge it, and create workplaces where women can focus on doing their best work – not constantly second-guessing how they’re being perceived.
Have you ever received feedback that seemed more focused on your personality, tone, or communication style than the quality of your work? Tell us what you heard in the comments. ✍🏼
