English · B1 · Speaking · about 5 min
Give feedback that is honest, specific and easy to accept.
Oksana leads a small marketing team in Warsaw; the team works in English. A junior colleague, Tom, sent his first client report. It is good but the summary is too long. Oksana wants to help without discouraging him. Useful B1 feedback follows a simple path: ask for time, start with a specific positive, name one thing to improve, explain why it matters, suggest a change and check understanding.
MomentYou ask for a moment.
SayHave you got a few minutes? I'd like to give you some feedback on the client report.
WhyHave you got a few minutes? asks permission; feedback on + noun.
MomentYou praise something specific.
SayFirst of all, the data section was really clear — the charts helped a lot.
WhySpecific praise (the charts) is more believable than 'good job'.
MomentYou name one improvement.
SayOne thing that could be better is the summary at the start.
Whycould be better is softer than 'is bad'.
MomentYou explain the impact.
SayIt was quite long, so the client might miss the key numbers.
Whyso + might: show the effect, not a personal judgement.
MomentYou suggest a next step.
SayMaybe next time you could keep it to three bullet points?
WhyMaybe … could …? turns criticism into a suggestion.
MomentYou check and offer help.
SayDoes that make sense? I'm happy to look at the next draft with you.
WhyDoes that make sense? invites questions; happy to offers support.
| Moment | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You ask for a moment. | Have you got a few minutes? I'd like to give you some feedback on the client report. | Have you got a few minutes? asks permission; feedback on + noun. |
| You praise something specific. | First of all, the data section was really clear — the charts helped a lot. | Specific praise (the charts) is more believable than 'good job'. |
| You name one improvement. | One thing that could be better is the summary at the start. | could be better is softer than 'is bad'. |
| You explain the impact. | It was quite long, so the client might miss the key numbers. |
Modal verbs soften feedback: could, might, would. Compare: 'The summary is too long' vs 'The summary could be shorter.' Use past simple for the specific piece of work (it was quite long) and could/maybe for the future step. 'Feedback' is uncountable: some feedback, a piece of feedback — not 'a feedback'.
Give feedback in private and soon after the work. Focus on the work, not the person: 'the summary was long', not 'you write too much'. One improvement per conversation is enough.
Related topics: /topics/english/b2/meetings/disagreeing-politely, /topics/english/b1/work/requesting-more-time. To keep going, continue with the English course on MyAnya.
Ask for a few minutes, praise something specific, name one area that could be better, explain the impact with so/might, suggest a change with maybe … could and check with does that make sense.
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You want to talk to Tom. How do you start?
Have you got a few minutes? I'd like to give you some feedback on the client report.
Have you got a few minutes? asks permission; feedback on + noun.
She chooses a quiet moment after lunch, not in the team meeting.
First of all, the data section was really clear — the charts helped a lot.
Specific praise (the charts) is more believable than 'good job'.
Tom spent a whole day on the charts.
One thing that could be better is the summary at the start.
could be better is softer than 'is bad'.
She picks only one point — not five.
It was quite long, so the client might miss the key numbers.
so + might: show the effect, not a personal judgement.
The client is a busy CFO.
Maybe next time you could keep it to three bullet points?
Maybe … could …? turns criticism into a suggestion.
Three bullets is a concrete, doable change.
Does that make sense? I'm happy to look at the next draft with you.
Does that make sense? invites questions; happy to offers support.
Tom sends a new version the next morning.
| so + might: show the effect, not a personal judgement. |
| You suggest a next step. | Maybe next time you could keep it to three bullet points? | Maybe … could …? turns criticism into a suggestion. |
| You check and offer help. | Does that make sense? I'm happy to look at the next draft with you. | Does that make sense? invites questions; happy to offers support. |