Reader 13
The Challenge of Giving Honest Feedback
Honest feedback can help people improve, but it can be difficult to give well. If feedback is too soft, the person may not understand what needs to change. If it is too harsh, the person may feel discouraged or defensive. The challenge is to be clear without being careless. Good feedback focuses on the work, behavior, or decision instead of attacking the person. It explains what was strong, what needs attention, and why the change matters.
The way feedback is given can affect whether the person accepts it. A calm tone, specific examples, and respectful language make feedback easier to hear. Instead of saying, “This is wrong,” a person might say, “This part is unclear because the reader may not know who the sentence refers to.” The second response gives useful information and a reason. Honest feedback does not need to be unkind. In fact, the most helpful feedback is often both direct and respectful.
VOCABULARY
Write the words or expressions from the article that are new to you or that you want to review.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Share your thoughts. Use details from the article to support your answers.
How can feedback that is too soft and feedback that is too harsh both prevent improvement? Explain the balance the writer recommends.
Compare “This is wrong” with the longer example in the second paragraph. What makes the second response more useful, and how does it reflect the advice in the first paragraph?
Why does the writer distinguish between criticizing the work and attacking the person? Explain how this distinction supports the conclusion that feedback can be both direct and respectful.
LISTEN
Listen to the recording and respond.
What did the speaker say?
How do you respond to the speaker’s opinion?
Use the reading to support your response.
