Your coworker sends you a poster design. The colours look great, but the headline is hard to read. You want to help, not hurt their feelings. “This is bad” offers no direction, while “It’s perfect!” hides the problem. Good feedback says what works, names one specific concern, and invites a change.
The Big Idea
Kind feedback is honest and actionable. Focus on the work, not the person. Mention what is working, point out one concrete issue, offer a possible improvement, and ask whether your suggestion makes sense.
10 Useful English Phrases
| English | Spanish · Español |
|---|---|
| Thanks for sharing this draft. | Gracias por compartir este borrador. |
| I really like the overall idea. | Me gusta mucho la idea general. |
| One thing I noticed is… | Algo que noté es… |
| The headline is a little hard to read on mobile. | El título cuesta un poco leerlo en el móvil. |
| Could we make the text a bit larger? | ¿Podríamos agrandar un poco el texto? |
| What if we tried a simpler layout? | ¿Y si probáramos un diseño más sencillo? |
| I am not sure this part is clear yet. | No sé si esta parte ya se entiende bien. |
| Would it help if I showed an example? | ¿Te ayudaría que te mostrara un ejemplo? |
| Does that suggestion make sense? | ¿Tiene sentido esa sugerencia? |
| Thanks for being open to feedback. | Gracias por escuchar mis sugerencias. |
Real Conversation — Try It Out
DESIGNER: “I finished a first draft of the event poster. What do you think?”
EDITOR: “Thanks for sharing it. I really like the overall idea.”
DESIGNER: “Great! Is there anything you would change?”
EDITOR: “One thing I noticed: the headline is hard to read on a phone.”
DESIGNER: “That is useful to know. Any suggestions?”
EDITOR: “Could we try a larger headline and fewer words?”
DESIGNER: “Yes, let me test that.”
EDITOR: “Thanks! I am happy to look at the updated version.”
Problem → Need → Request
Problem: The poster headline is hard to read on a phone.
Need: I need the information to be easier to understand.
Request: Could we try larger text and compare the result?
Before You Go
- Decide what genuinely works before you comment.
- Identify one visible or measurable concern.
- Prepare a concrete suggestion.
- Avoid making guesses about the creator’s motives.
- Listen if the creator has a better solution.
Your Three-Round Speaking Mission
- Give a specific compliment about a fictional poster.
- Describe one problem without using “bad” or “wrong.”
- Suggest one experiment and ask for feedback on your feedback.
Surprise Round
The designer disagrees and explains a constraint you did not know about. Thank them and ask what alternative would be feasible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does “could we” mean I have to make the change myself?
No. It can be a polite way to frame a team suggestion. Clarify ownership if needed.
Should I always compliment first?
Only if the compliment is genuine. Specific, respectful honesty is more useful than a forced compliment.
Is “I noticed…” useful at work?
Yes. It introduces a particular observation in a calmer tone than assigning blame.
