Feedback giving and receiving in publishing: why it matters?

We publish not only to be read or to change things, but also to get feedback on what we think, what we write, the methods we use, and the claims we make. Feedback is the heartbeat of learning and growth. Yet most writers and academics find it hard to get. Some hesitate to ask for it, fearing criticism or embarrassment. Others find giving feedback even harder, offering only polite positives or avoiding it altogether.

Ubuntu reminds us: “The community that does not tell its children where they are not thinking or doing well is not raising its children right. At the same time, a community that ignores the good things its children are doing is not doing right.” Feedback works the same way. It is both correction and recognition. It should never be only about the positives. True feedback asks hard questions, challenges assumptions, and tests evidence. It may feel uncomfortable, but this discomfort helps strengthen thinking and work. Learning to give and receive feedback carefully is essential.

Good feedback does more than point out mistakes. It makes us think: Are the methods right? Are the conclusions justified? Could there be other explanations? Does the argument hold? Feedback is a conversation. It helps writers reflect, revise, and improve their ideas.

Feedback also requires fairness and respect. Criticism should focus on ideas rather than people. It should avoid bias, recognise limits in knowledge, and offer guidance rather than judgment. Feedback is a tool for improvement, not a weapon.

Giving feedback is a skill, but receiving it is just as important. Accepting critique with humility, thinking carefully about it, and using it to improve builds confidence and understanding. Writers who treat feedback as part of learning, not as a personal test, grow stronger. Those giving feedback help by pointing out gaps and asking questions that make work better. Together, they take part in a process that improves both ideas and those who create them.

Feedback is like a sculptor shaping clay. The first form may be rough, but each careful touch brings clarity, strength, and beauty. Without guidance and correction, the shape stays incomplete.

There are many ways to contribute to Mtandao’s work and strengthen this culture of feedback. You can give feedback in the comments section of posts, accept invitations to review manuscripts, or submit your own work for peer review in the journals we host. Each action is part of building a community where ideas are tested, improved, and shared.

Feedback should become part of the culture of learning and writing. It is central to critical thinking, honesty, and improvement. Avoiding it limits growth. Careful, fair, and thoughtful feedback helps work, ideas, and the writer themselves grow.