Is Kindness Killing Creativity? The Feedback Dilemma

Feedback — two syllables that can make even the toughest marketer squirm.

In today’s episode of UnTrended, host Nicole Jones sits down with Jon Lonsdale (CEO), Louise Brooks (Senior Copywriter), and Lottie Hutchins (Senior Account Director) from Publicis Pro to dive deep into the messy world of feedback: how we give it, how we take it, and how it’s evolving in modern workplaces.

From why Gen Z lawyers are apparently running to HR when told they're wrong to why agency creatives dread the words “make it punchy,” this episode strips back the layers on a topic that’s often sugar-coated — or worse, ignored.

Plus, we hear some of the most memorable (and brutally honest) pieces of feedback our team has ever received—from law professors with sharp pens to pitch rooms that ended in standing ovations.

Stick around to the end for our mailbag segment, where we tackle how early-career agency folks can figure out when to push back versus when to pick their battles.

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Chapter Markers:

(01:42) Gen Z, Gentle Parenting & Taking Criticism

From law firms hiring support workers for young staff to how upbringing shapes feedback tolerance.

(07:08) Have We Gotten Too Nice?

Is modern working culture too polite to be clear — and what’s the hidden cost?

(14:49) The Case for Course Correction

Are we heading for a swing back to tougher, more direct feedback cultures?

(19:44) Why Client Feedback Is So Hard

Pressure, feedback committees, and why clients often can’t articulate what they want.

(23:08) Beyond Track Changes

Why Jon hates markup, Lottie loves voice notes, and how to keep feedback human.

(24:58) Helping Clients Help Us

Why creatives should meet clients early, ask better questions, and build trust.

(26:39) The Most Memorable Feedback We’ve Ever Gotten

From university essays marked “learn to plagiarise better” to standing ovations in a pitch.

(30:52) Mailbag: Push Back or Pick Your Battles?

Advice for early-career marketers on when to stand firm and when to let it go.

Useful Links:

Follow Nicole Jones on LinkedIn

Connect with Jon Lonsdale

Learn more from Louise Brooks

Touch base with Lottie Hutchins on LinkedIn

For more information, visit the Publicis Pro Website