Constructive Feedback

Be timely - Providing feedback as close to the event as possible is always the best approach, because the event is fresh in minds and can be related to more easily. However, make sure you're not providing feedback out of emotion and positioning yourself for an emotional argument. Go out for a walk or sleep on it first then give the feedback. Try not to wait longer than a day or so as the effectiveness of the feedback will go down the longer you wait.

Get some coaching if necessary before giving feedback - Consider running your feedback by a trusted colleague, friend, or spouse before giving it to the recipient. Ensure that you don't make it a griping session or an attempt to get support for your position. Heed your coach's feedback and incorporate it into your feedback for …show more content…
Ensure the behaviors are factual and easily understandable and not laden with emotion. If you feel you may not be able to judge the emotional content of the feedback, ask a colleague to review whether your feedback is factually driven and not emotionally-charged.

If something was done well, say so - If your recipient did something well, start your feedback session off with the things that were done well. Don't worry that you may be dampening the effect of the constructive feedback because you also gave positive feedback. Mixing positive and constructive feedback tells the recipient you are being objective and balanced and will make your feedback more effective.

Avoid emotional attacks - Statements like "You idiot!" or "Your ideas are stupid!" are very general, have no constructive value and don't belong in a feedback session (or anywhere else for that matter). Your feedback should focus on fact and some unemotional assessment, such as "The joke you told in the meeting today could have been offensive to some of the