Not Feedback, Feed Forward: How Students Build Resilience through High Performance Learning

Do you ever feel like a fraud? Unsure of your abilities, and living with the fear that one day you’ll be "found out"? If so, you’re not alone. Over 70% of people experience Imposter Syndrome at some point in their careers. The constant doubts, the feeling of inadequacy, and the need to prove yourself can be overwhelming. Yet there’s a transformative approach that can help adults and students alike build resilience and overcome challenges - High Performance Learning.

HPL’s "Feed Forward" philosophy offers a framework that empowers both students and leaders to grow, learn, and build resilience. Not just through feedback, but through forward-thinking strategies that help individuals develop their potential. This focus on growth, rather than being weighed down by past limitations, is key to overcoming self-doubt and achieving sustained success.

Resilience through HPL: A shift in mindset

Imagine starting a new role. You’ve worked hard to get there, you’re full of excitement and potential, but as the weeks go by, doubt starts to creep in. “Am I really cut out for this?” “What if everyone figures out I’m not as capable as they think?” The negative thoughts start to take over, making decision-making harder and progress feel slower. Sound familiar?

This is the essence of Imposter Syndrome. But the reality is, with imposter syndrome this self-doubt isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a natural response to stepping outside of your comfort zone. Everyone, at some point in their life, feels like an imposter. But this doesn’t have to hinder your progress.

In fact, it’s the perfect opportunity to embrace the growth mindset and resilience that HPL champions.

Not feedback, feed forward: The power of HPL’s approach

At its core, High Performance Learning isn’t about looking back and judging what has been done wrong. Instead, it’s about feeding forward, focusing on how we can build on our strengths and opportunities for growth and embracing challenges as chances to learn.

In schools that embrace HPL, students are empowered not by traditional feedback (which often highlights weaknesses), but by forward-thinking strategies that help them develop resilience and a growth mindset. This approach is deeply connected to how educators and leaders can improve their performance.

One of our headteachers, reflected on how his own experience with Imposter Syndrome as Head of one of the UK’s top grammar schools who were transformed through HPL principles in this blog. With the support of a strong leadership network, he was able to break free from the cycle of self-doubt and start using HPL's Values, Attitudes, and Attributes (VAAs) to focus on growth, rather than on what might go wrong.

How HPL builds resilience: Key takeaways

1. The agile cluster: Embracing risks and uncertainty Taking risks and being open-minded is key to resilience. HPL encourages both students and leaders to embrace the uncertainty that comes with growth. Rather than being paralysed by fear of failure, students are encouraged to take on challenges with the understanding that mistakes are part of the learning process. By trusting themselves to experiment and try new ideas, students develop resilience. Learning not to fear setbacks, but to view them as opportunities for growth.
2. The hardworking cluster: Focusing on deliberate practice Building resilience requires deliberate practice and HPL encourages students and leaders alike to focus on continuous improvement. HPL students are taught to reflect on their progress, focus on their efforts, and recognise that incremental improvements add up to significant growth. This process of deliberate practice not only enhances academic performance but also nurtures the inner resilience needed to overcome self-doubt.
3. The empathetic cluster: Building emotional intelligence Resilience is not just about perseverance, it’s also about emotional intelligence. HPL teaches students to develop emotional intelligence, to recognise their feelings, manage their stress, and stay focused on the task at hand. This emotional agility helps them bounce back from setbacks, knowing that resilience doesn’t mean being immune to failure, but rather, being able to recover and learn from it.
4. The collaborative cluster: Seeking support and feedback Another essential part of resilience is collaboration. HPL emphasises the importance of collaboration both with peers and mentors. In schools, students work together to support one another’s growth, and this sense of community helps them build resilience. Leaders too need a strong support network to thrive, whether it’s through mentorship or collaborative teamwork.

Building resilience in students

The principles of HPL don’t just help adults overcome Imposter Syndrome; they provide a roadmap for how we can teach students to build resilience. By focusing on "feed forward" instead of feedback, HPL encourages students to focus on their potential and the steps they can take to grow, rather than being held back by past mistakes or limitations.

When students are taught to embrace challenges, focus on improvement, and collaborate with others, they develop the resilience needed to navigate both academic and personal obstacles. Just as leaders can learn to overcome their self-doubt, students can learn to view setbacks not as failures, but as stepping stones toward success.

This article combines research from blogs including:

Start Talking – Confident Speakers and Confident Thinkers

Help, I’m an Imposter! A School Leader’s Guide to Growing Self-Belief

Educational expectations and missing the target