How to Give Feedback That People Actually Use

Vague feedback ('be more proactive') fails because it doesn't tell someone what to do differently next time. The fix is a simple structure: describe the specific situation, the specific behavior you observed, and the specific impact it had — in that order, every time.

'In yesterday's client call, when the timeline slipped without a heads-up, the client had to find out from someone else' is actionable in a way 'communicate better' never will be — it names a moment the person can actually recall and adjust.

Deliver it close to the event, not saved up for a quarterly review, and separate the observation from the judgment: describe what happened before you say what you think it means. People can accept a fact about their behavior much more easily than a conclusion about their character.

End with a specific, forward-looking ask — one behavior to try next time — rather than a general exhortation to improve.