Don't ask for feedback.

Why ask for advice instead?

This was a life-or-death experience.

During the Apollo 13 mission, an oxygen tank exploded on the spacecraft. Three astronauts were stranded 200,000 miles from Earth.

On the ground, lead flight director Gene Kranz faced a crisis.

He could have asked engineers for feedback. Why did the tank explode? What went wrong in the design?

Instead, he focused on a bigger question:

How do we get our crew home safely?

Look Forward, Not feedBack

The team could not afford to waste time blaming or critiquing. They needed solutions. Quick. Gene told his team to look forward.

• They brainstormed new procedures.

• They improvised repairs.

• They gave step-by-step guidance to the astronauts.

They worked the problem rather than dwelling on it. Their “advice” mindset led to a successful rescue.

All three astronauts returned alive.

The Science Behind Advice

A Harvard Business Review study shows that feedback often traps people in past mistakes. But when asked for advice, they focus on the next steps.

This shift can boost improvement scores by 30%.

So, after your next project, don’t ask “What did I do wrong?”. Ask, “What’s the one thing I can do better next time?”

You’ll spark creativity, unlock progress, and move forward.

Just like Apollo 13.