COM 95 — Effective Feedback: Driving Growth and Collaboration
Quarter: Spring
Instructor(s): John Armstrong, Natasha Blitz-Jones
Date(s): Apr 9—May 7
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Wednesdays
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 6:00—7:50 pm (PT)
Tuition: $390
Refund Deadline: Apr 11
Unit(s): 1
Enrollment Limit: 40
Status: Registration opens Feb 24, 8:30 am (PT)
Quarter: Spring
Day: Wednesdays
Duration: 5 weeks
Time: 6:00—7:50 pm (PT)
Date(s): Apr 9—May 7
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $390
Refund Deadline: Apr 11
Instructor(s): John Armstrong, Natasha Blitz-Jones
Grade Restriction: No letter grade
Enrollment Limit: 40
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Registration opens Feb 24, 8:30 am (PT)
Feedback is a cornerstone of growth at work and in everyday life. And like any skill, effective feedback takes practice to master. Delivered well, it can boost confidence, strengthen relationships, and enhance performance for individuals and teams. But research shows that if poorly managed, feedback can have the opposite effect, causing overwhelm, demotivation, or defensiveness. This interactive and supportive course will teach you how to make feedback constructive and empowering, whether you’re navigating tough conversations, offering peer insights, or managing criticism. Through role-plays, real-time practice, and group exercises informed by the popular “Designing Your Life” courses at Stanford and research from Harvard’s Project Zero, you will master feedback dynamics in diverse settings, from one-on-one interactions to team discussions. You'll also explore how AI tools can improve your approach. You will leave the course with enhanced skills and a practical toolkit that will help you lead, learn, and collaborate more effectively.
JOHN ARMSTRONG
Founder and Principal, Leadership Labs
John Armstrong is the founder of Leadership Labs, a consultancy delivering programs in workplace learning, leadership, and collaboration. Previously, he taught in Stanford’s Design Program, including Stanford's “Designing Your Life” class and other courses using applied positive psychology and career strategy to catalyze personal and professional growth. He is featured as a meditation instructor on the Calm app, a mental health app for help with sleep and meditation, and has led learning and development programs on five continents. NATASHA BLITZ-JONES
Leadership Coach
Natasha Blitz-Jones is a head teaching fellow at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard. Her courses address challenging leadership dilemmas that resist simple fixes, and she consults with organizations seeking to enhance communication, navigate conflict, and drive change. Her work combines mindset-based change processes with a systems-thinking perspective and is informed by her research with Harvard's Project Zero and grounded in the principles of adaptive leadership, group dynamics, and adult development. She received an MEd in human development and psychology from Harvard.
Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.