Feedback I Hate to Get from My Clients
Feedback I Hate to Get from My Clients
(Or: That Time I Pretended Feedback Didn’t Exist and It Came Back for Revenge)
It all started on a Wednesday. The kind of day where your coffee is cold before you take the first sip, and the internet cuts out right when you’re about to hit “send.”
The Tulip Media team was deep in discussion over a new campaign image. Jessica had pulled together a visually compelling direction of bold colors, a little daring, a lot of drama. Tania was completely behind the color story. Abbey was holding up her phone, declaring that their audience would eat it up on social media.
Then Kelly, always thoughtful and strategic, asked the room, “But do we think our clients will like it?”
Silence fell. All eyes turned to Robyn, the one who usually has her finger on the client pulse. She looked at the mood board, then spoke the truth that none of them really wanted to hear:
“It doesn’t matter what we think. Our clients will decide.”
A beat of silence, then a collective sigh. Trevor chuckled and said, half-joking, “We should just get that printed on the wall.”
The Necessary Evil (and Gift) of Client Feedback
Feedback can be a mood killer. You think you’ve nailed the concept, the layout, the tone, only to get an email back with that dreaded phrase: “Can we chat?”
But here’s the truth: feedback is part of the process. It’s often the missing piece between a good project and a great one. When done right, feedback loops help teams grow, work smarter, and build stronger relationships with clients.
Tulip Media has seen both sides. There have been moments where feedback derailed the timeline and forced a major pivot, but there have also been times where one thoughtful comment sparked an even better idea. The trick is building a system that treats feedback not as a threat but as a tool.
A Lesson in What Not to Do
Across countless businesses and industries, there are similar stories. A client casually mentions that a design or direction feels a little off-brand. It’s not harsh criticism, just a comment in passing. The team nods, maybe even makes a note, but decides not to dig in.
Deadlines loom, and let’s be honest, “off-brand” can mean a dozen different things. So, the project moves forward as planned.
Then the next phase comes around, and that feedback resurfaces, only now it’s louder, and it’s not just one person’s opinion. The client’s internal team is asking questions. Now there’s concern that no one was listening.
That moment stings, and it’s a reminder: casual comments aren’t always casual. Sometimes, they’re early warnings. How a team responds can either build trust or chip away at it.
Building Feedback Loops That Work (and Don’t Drive Everyone Crazy)
If feedback is here to stay, it should be something that makes a team stronger, not something that throws it into chaos. At Tulip, feedback is now woven into nearly every part of the process. Here’s how it works:
- Set the Intention First
Before asking for feedback, it’s important to clarify what kind of feedback is needed. Are you looking for input on design direction? Messaging? Brand tone?
Vague requests get vague responses. Being clear helps clients focus their feedback and saves everyone time.
- Make It Easy to Give
Some clients love forms. Others prefer a quick phone call or a short email thread. The Tulip team adapts to each client’s preferences. The easier it is to give feedback, the more likely clients are to give it early on.
- Ask Smarter Questions
Generic questions like “Do you like it?” rarely lead to valuable insights. Instead, the team asks:
- Does this align with how you want your brand to be seen?
- Is there anything that feels out of place?
- What’s one thing you’d change if you could?
These questions give clients the freedom to share both high-level and specific thoughts.
- Act On It (And Say That You Did)
One of the most impactful things a team can do is close the loop. When a client suggests something, and the team acts on it, it’s important to communicate that.
Even a quick note like, “Thanks for the feedback on the layout. We adjusted the spacing on the intro page to make it more skimmable,” shows that client voices are heard.
- Use Feedback as a Launchpad, Not Just a Fix-It Tool
Some of Tulip’s best improvements started as feedback. When one client mentioned struggling to explain the print program to their new staff, Jessica developed an onboarding toolkit. That feedback-based idea is now standard in the program.
Feedback isn’t just for fixing problems. It can lead to innovation, too.
Feedback Inside the Team
It’s not just about clients. Feedback flows internally at Tulip, too. From early concept to final approval, everyone’s voice matters. A design draft might get two rounds of collaborative review. Editorial content often involves multiple perspectives before it’s ready to go.
This culture of feedback makes the whole process more flexible. When client suggestions come in, no one panics. The team is used to revising, reshaping, and evolving their work. That openness keeps things moving and ensures quality at every step.
When Feedback Is Hard to Hear
Not all feedback feels good. Sometimes it comes at the wrong time. Sometimes it means revisiting work that was already finalized. But the team has learned to welcome it, even when it stings.
They see it this way: if a client is giving thoughtful feedback, that means they care. They’re engaged. And they want the work to succeed just as much as the team does.
That kind of partnership is always worth protecting.
Wrapping It Up
Client feedback isn’t always easy, but it is essential. It’s how projects evolve from good to great. It’s how teams grow stronger. It’s how businesses stay relevant.
At Tulip Media, feedback isn’t an afterthought; it’s part of the foundation. It’s considered at every stage of every project. And it’s welcomed, even when it challenges the team to rethink and revise.
Because in the end, it’s not about what any one person thinks.
It’s about building something the client believes in, too.
And if that means hearing some hard truths along the way, so be it. They’d rather deal with tough feedback early than silence later.
So, the next time a client says, “Can I be honest?” Means they’re all ears.
Great work starts with good listening. The best ideas often come after a little discomfort, a few adjustments, and a whole lot of collaboration.
