A few years back I wrote about comedians and the instant feedback they get. They tell a joke and the room reacts – there’s no delay and no guessing. In learning we rarely get that with many signals, and those that do arrive, are often long after the work is done and the moment that mattered has already passed.

Last week I had one of those rare moments of immediate feedback. It was clear and honest and surprisingly grounding. It showed me what I do well and what I still need to sharpen. It also reminded me how useful fast insight can be when you’re usually working in a slow loop.

So it’s worth seeking those moments out.

Ask for a quick reaction, look for the first expression, and listen to what people repeat back. You learn more from that instant response than you ever do from a delayed survey.

And when people offer that feedback without being asked, back them. They’re helping you work better. They’re giving you the closest thing we have to that comedian’s room.