The Secret to Handling Tough Criticism, with Gordon Ramsay

The High Performance Podcast

When you think of Gordon Ramsay, you probably think of shouting, sarcasm, and one-liners hot enough to sear a steak. But behind the fire is a habit that’s far more important than the volume: He takes feedback professionally, not personally.

In this episode, we go beyond the reputation and dig into the mindset that helped Gordon rise, not just to fame, but to genuine mastery. From his early football dreams to Michelin-starred kitchens, Ramsay shares how embracing criticism, and choosing to learn from it instead of defending against it, changed everything.

We explore:

• Why your first reaction to feedback is rarely your best
• What neuroscience tells us about why feedback feels so threatening
• The “three-beat” rule that can shift how you respond
• A better way to give feedback: the feedforward method
• How humility, not ego, fuels real growth

Whether you're leading a team, learning a craft, or just trying to handle tough conversations better, this episode is for you.

Because growth isn’t about never being wrong. It’s about what you do when someone tells you you are.

Listen to the full episode with Gordon Ramsay: https://pod.fo/e/1fa614

Here is more information on the studies referenced:

1. The effects of feedback interventions on performance, published in Psychological Bulletin: Avraham N. Kluger & Angelo DeNisi (1996)
2. Feedforward approach Avraham N. Kluger & Dina Nir (2010)