Giving Feedback Constructively

1. Give feedback on others’ behavior, not their personality.
2. Give descriptive, not judgmental, feedback.
3. Give feedback on others’ actions in a specific situation, not in the abstract.
4. Give feedback on immediate behavior, not on past behavior.
5. Share your perceptions and feelings, not advice.
6. Give feedback only when other people ask you to.
7. Do not give people more feedback than others can understand at the time.
8. Focus your feedback on actions that the person can change.

David W. Johnson (2014) Reaching Out: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Self-actualization. Boston: Pearson. P.63.