Nestlé's CEO shares the feedback he got that changed how he leads

Philipp Navratil said he used to struggle with giving people feedback.

Nespresso Philipp Navratil changed his leadership style after being told he needed to provide honest feedback.

He said he now embraces giving direct feedback and feels like it's his responsibility to do so.

He said when he has tough conversations, he focuses mostly on finding a solution.

No one likes to be told they're doing something wrong — but it's not easy to be the messenger either.

Philipp Navratil has spent more than two decades at Nestlé.

Early in his leadership career, he received one piece of advice that reshaped how he manages people: Give honest feedback .

The CEO of the company behind more than 30 billion-dollar brands, including Nespresso and DiGiorno, said he when he first stepped into leadership, he struggled to tell employees when their performance fell short.

"It's easy to tell someone 'Great job, well done,'" Navratil told Business Insider.

This is part of a series of stories from Business Insider's conversation with Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil.

To be alerted when the next piece publishes, follow reporter Ana Altchek here.

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The CEO said that he tries to be "as direct as possible," because if you beat around the bush, people may miss the point.

"It's much more valuable for them to receive it that way because it's clear," Navratil said.