How to Give Constructive Criticism: 6 Tips and Examples for Helpful Feedback

Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end, managing criticism isn’t always easy. For the critic, the conversation can feel awkward and even intimidating; for the person being criticized, it’s easy to take those words as a personal attack and get discouraged from trying again.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way! By learning to give effective, constructive criticism that can actually help make things better, both parties can feel better about the conversation and start working toward a more desirable outcome.

What Are the Benefits of Constructive Criticism?

Constructive criticism usually focuses on suggestions for how something could have been done better, or how a goal could have been reached via a more efficient route.

In other words, it’s not just criticism for the sake of criticism; it actually seeks to improve a process or product.

As such, constructive criticism usually comes with proposed solutions that the receiver can implement to see improvement, which makes it perhaps the most productive type of critique.

How Do You Give Constructive Criticism?

Keep these 6 tips in mind if you want to provide constructive criticism that actually leads to growth and improvement.

1. Make sure it’s not about you.

First, make sure you’re clear about why you’re offering the criticism in the first place. If your intention is truly to help the receiver grow and improve, then proceed.

But sometimes, our criticism (even if we tell ourselves it’s “constructive”) really comes from our own insecurities or personal biases.

For example, if the reason you’re offering feedback is to get the other person to meet your needs or fit your perceived ideals, then it’s not really about them—it’s about you, and that kind of criticism isn’t constructive.

Likewise, criticism isn’t constructive if it’s simply a reflection of your personal preferences. You might not like the color yellow, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the color. Constructive criticism isn’t about your opinion or taste; rather, it’s about helping the other person toward their goal (or at least a shared one).

2. Don’t make assumptions.

When offering constructive criticism, don’t make assumptions about why the other person made the choices they did or acted the way they did. If you’re curious, just ask.

You also shouldn’t assume that your view is right, or that your solution is the only viable one. Approach the conversation as an exploration of available options, and remain open to other ideas or explanations that might come out of it.

3. Address the issue, not the person.

When it comes to offering constructive criticism, you should always seek to address the issue, not the person. You can often do this by reframing your thoughts with the passive voice, or making sure the issue is the subject of your sentences.

For example, if you are critiquing a writer’s work, you might say something like: “The story is progressing well; however, it could include clearer insight to the character’s motivation,” as opposed to “You aren’t including enough insight to the character’s motivation.”

The first version focuses on the writing, not the author, because the writing can easily be changed and improved. Also, no matter how poor the writing, the writer is not their writing, so focus on what you intend to change (which should be the text, not the author).

4. Use “I” (not “you”) statements.

Another way to help the other person understand that the feedback is about the situation and not them personally is to start your critical statements with “I” (such as “I feel,” “I think,” or “I’d suggest”) and not “you.”

For example, “I think the presentation could use more evidential data from the last quarter” is much more constructive than “You didn’t include enough evidence, your presentation isn’t good.”

This strategy also reinforces your point of view, and makes it easier for the other person to separate the criticism from themselves and better understand where you’re coming from. This will make them less defensive, and therefore more likely to accept the constructive criticism and advice.

5. Use the sandwich method.

The sandwich method is a way of offering criticism, “sandwiched” between specific, positive phrases. The goal of this method is to create a pleasant atmosphere that encourages open discussion by relaxing the severity of the negative criticism. In this way, the person at the center will be more receptive and ultimately leave the conversation motivated, rather than deflated.

To use the sandwich method, start with what the other person did well, followed by a discussion of areas that need improvement (using the other tips from this post). Then, conclude with a final statement of praise for one of the person’s strengths (just make sure it’s honest and genuine!).

For example: “Your word choice and voice establish a fun, conversational tone that draws the reader in. However, I feel your article could use more supporting evidence to really make your argument concrete. Overall, though, I think your presentation of the issue has done a great job of generating reader interest.”

Of course, you should also know your audience. If the person you’re speaking to is typically more direct and to the point, then they’re most likely okay with that approach too.

6. Provide actionable suggestions.

Providing negative criticism alone isn’t very helpful; in order to be considered constructive, your feedback should include suggestions of what the other person can do to improve.

Before delivering your feedback, think of at least one clear, actionable suggestion the other person can apply. “Do better” is vague and not really actionable. (And if you can’t think of a more specific suggestion, then you should question whether you could actually do better yourself.)

Receiving Criticism

We’ve covered the best ways to dish out helpful and actionable constructive criticism. But what if you’re the one in the hot seat?

Whether you’re preparing to share your work with your writers group or getting ready for your upcoming performance review, taking some time to check out our tips for handling criticism will help you show up with the right mindset.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

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