Feedback

When Brazilians do give critical feedback, they frame it as coming from care. The message, sometimes stated explicitly, is: “I am telling you this because I care about your success.” This framing transforms criticism from attack to gift—from judgment to investment. The person delivering criticism positions themselves as your ally who wants you to succeed, not as a judge evaluating your worth.

When you receive criticism framed this way from Brazilian colleagues, understand that the care is genuine, not merely cosmetic. And when you need to criticize, make sure your care is real and communicable.

If you deliver criticism as cold assessment from detached authority, it will feel harsh and may damage the relationship. Connect the criticism to your genuine investment in the person’s success.

Receiving feedback in Brazil requires reading between the lines. Because feedback is often indirect and softened, the literal words may not carry the full message. You need to pay attention to tone, context, timing, and what is not being said.

When a Brazilian colleague says “Perhaps this could be considered further,” they may be communicating serious concern. When enthusiasm is notably absent, something may be wrong. When someone creates an opportunity to talk privately, important feedback may be coming.

This interpretive skill is normal in Brazilian communication—Brazilians are reading context constantly. If you take everything at literal face value, you will miss evaluation that your colleagues thought they had communicated clearly. Develop sensitivity to implication, and when uncertain, create opportunities for more direct conversation in private settings.

After delivering critical feedback, Brazilians work to repair the relationship. Criticism creates a small wound that needs healing. The repair might be explicit—”But you know I value you,” “We’re good, right?”—or implicit through warm follow-up behavior that demonstrates continued regard.

The feedback interaction is not complete until the relationship has been reaffirmed. When you receive critical feedback from Brazilian colleagues, watch for these repair gestures and receive them as genuine.

When you give critical feedback, do not simply deliver the message and move on. Follow up. Check in. Demonstrate that the criticism was about behavior, not about the person or the relationship. The repair work is as important as the feedback itself.