Three Things You Should Always Include When Emailing Feedback
It is difficult to give feedback, especially via email, when you don’t have body language or facial expressions to help you find the right path. Include these three elements in your email feedback so you can focus on your work rather than dwelling on criticism.
Focus on the work being done by fleshing out each of these areas:
- Appreciation for their work : Recognize the efforts they have made so far and their contributions, even if the result needs improvement. For example: “Thank you for turning this deck over so quickly! This gives us a solid foundation for our presentation next week. “
- Specific Feedback : Provide practical feedback that makes it easy for your colleague to move forward. For example, “Our presentation will be much stronger if we include a case study. Let’s use project X from last month and place it after slide 8. “
- Next Steps : Map out what needs to be done next so that everyone understands how they are contributing to moving forward and that progress is made. It also helps shift attention to what’s next. For example: “After you add the case study, I will validate the formatting and add the attachment slides. Then we can meet later this week to finalize the deck and split parts of the presentation. “
By including these three areas in your email feedback, your message will be more effective and your working relationship will remain positive.
How to Leave Negative Email Feedback | Harvard Business Review