How to give feedback that isn’t awkward

“Last chance to change this. It sounds awkward.” How would you respond to this feedback? If you’re my dad, you’d hang the note on the fridge as a (very embarrassing) reminder of my unhelpful phrasing.

One of my earliest roles was working in my father’s medical office transcribing dictation from patient visits and proofreading letters. That’s when I wrote the infamous Post-It.

In the years since, I’ve been both a writer and an editor, hearing input on my own work and doling it out to others. That means I’ve seen all kinds of feedback, from the constructive to the combative, and have learned the right tone to strike when sharing suggestions.

Here’s how to give feedback that will get results:

Be Specific 💯

Specific feedback gives writers the best chance to make the right changes. It’s hard to know what to do with “I don’t like it,” but “The voice doesn’t match our brand standards” is instantly clear.

When an editor gives precise feedback, the writer has a concrete way to improve the text (e.g., get the style guide and read up on the brand voice).

Stay Constructive 🏗️

Feedback can certainly be negative, but it still needs to be constructive. Make sure you address problems in the text itself, not your writer’s supposed flaws.

Try using a “compliment sandwich”: something you like, then what needs to change, then end it with something positive. “Nice turnaround on this piece. Since the flow is a bit abrupt, let’s add two more tips. That will help the conclusion hit even harder.”

Make It Actionable 🎬

“Make it better” is too subjective. What might be better to one stakeholder could read as worse to another person. Notice how these are much clearer: “Please break up the long sections with subheads so it’s easier to scan” or “Add attribution for the stats in paragraphs 1 and 2.”

Noting specific changes leads the writer in the right direction and avoids more back and forth through further rounds of edits.

These tips just scratch the surface but can get you on track to providing better feedback.

Editors, what tips do you have for giving feedback? Writers, what kind of feedback do you find most helpful?

Originally posted on LinkedIn.com