From time to time in the workplace, it is up to us to provide
feedback to others. Perhaps to your mentee, a colleague or
teammate, or even your boss. How can you make sure your words
are well received, while also honest and effective? Follow the
simple guidelines below, and you’ll do fine. Don’t be vague or
speak in generalities. Instead, a specific example, such as,
“When you gave the presentation, you spent 5 minutes giving
background before telling us why you were speaking, or the goal
you wanted to achieve. Instead, next time, could you start with
one or two sentences that give context and tell the team
precisely what you want from us? In this way, people will be
more inclined to listen to the rest of what you say. Does this
make sense to you?” You want to specify what the problem is, why
it was a problem (in your opinion) and a specific suggestion as
to how it could be resolved. Finally, you want to ask for the
other person’s input and understanding. Keep it Confined to One
Instance or Event Stay focused