How to Give Constructive Feedback

by Vocafy Disahkan

Inggeris (AS) B2 12 soalan People & relationships

Explore practical ways to give specific, respectful feedback, clarify expectations, and handle difficult workplace conversations.

1. 1. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   Which reply names a specific feature of the presentation and explains its benefit?

   A coworker asks, “What worked well in my presentation that I should keep next time?”

   • The timeline made the project stages easy to follow.
   • You're clearly a natural presenter.
   • It was really good overall.
   • You seemed pleased with how it went.

   Useful praise tells someone what they can repeat.

   Show solution

   • The timeline made the project stages easy to follow.

   Connecting a particular feature to its benefit makes praise useful for future work.

2. 2. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   Which opening describes the problem without judging the employee's character?

   A supervisor is discussing two weekly updates that arrived after the agreed Monday deadline.

   • You're an unreliable person when it comes to deadlines.
   • The last two updates arrived after Monday's deadline.
   • You obviously don't care about keeping the team informed.
   • You're the kind of person who always leaves things too late.

   Focus on events that both people can check.

   Show solution

   • The last two updates arrived after Monday's deadline.

   A clear observation keeps the conversation focused on behavior that can change, rather than a personal label.

3. 3. Isi tempat kosong.

   A coworker's report includes figures but does not identify their sources. The feedback should address that problem directly.

   In the next draft, please ___ so readers can check where the numbers came from.

   • present each figure as an estimate
   • mention that the figures seem accurate
   • add a source beside each figure

   Readers need a way to trace the information.

   Show solution

   In the next draft, please add a source beside each figure so readers can check where the numbers came from.

   An actionable request identifies a change the writer can make, not just a weakness in the report.

4. 4. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   Which follow-up explains the effect on the discussion without guessing the coworker's intentions?

   A meeting facilitator tells a coworker, “During the planning meeting, you spoke before Lee had finished three times.”

   • You wanted everyone to notice how much you knew.
   • You clearly thought Lee's proposal wasn't worth hearing.
   • You were trying to take control of the meeting.
   • Lee wasn't able to finish explaining the proposal.

   What happened to the conversation as a result?

   Show solution

   • Lee wasn't able to finish explaining the proposal.

   Explaining the effect shows why the behavior matters without claiming to know someone's motives.

5. 5. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   Which invitation allows a private, timely conversation about a sensitive issue that is not urgent?

   A manager needs to discuss an employee's handling of yesterday's client call. The employee is currently helping a customer.

   • Could we meet privately after your customer call to discuss yesterday's client conversation?
   • I'll post my concerns about your client call in the team chat now.
   • Please end that customer call so we can discuss your performance immediately.
   • Let's discuss what went wrong in front of everyone at tomorrow's team meeting.

   Consider both privacy and the employee's current responsibility.

   Show solution

   • Could we meet privately after your customer call to discuss yesterday's client conversation?

   A private conversation reduces embarrassment, and a suitable time gives both people space to focus.

6. 6. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   Which question invites the employee to explain the situation before the manager suggests a solution?

   Manager: “The draft wasn't ready on Friday as agreed. I don't yet know what caused the delay.”

   • Why didn't you take the deadline seriously?
   • What got in the way of having it ready by Friday?
   • Can you admit that you planned your time badly?
   • Will you promise that every future draft will arrive on time?

   Leave room for an explanation you have not considered.

   Show solution

   • What got in the way of having it ready by Friday?

   An open question can reveal obstacles that an assumption or accusation would miss.

7. 7. Isi semua tempat kosong.

   You manage a report. Adding a summary is optional, but correcting the total is required before publication.

   You ___ add a summary if you think it would help, but you ___ correct the total before we publish.

   • could
   • must
   • must not
   • cannot

   The two changes have different levels of necessity.

   Show solution

   You could add a summary if you think it would help, but you must correct the total before we publish.

   “Could” presents a possibility, while “must” makes a requirement clear. Politeness should not hide what is necessary.

8. 8. Susun perkataan mengikut urutan yang betul.

   You are raising a concern with your manager while allowing for information you may not have.

   • seems difficult
   • but this deadline
   • to meet.
   • missing some context,
   • I may be

   Acknowledge uncertainty before stating the concern.

   Show solution

   I may be missing some context, but this deadline seems difficult to meet.

   This opening leaves room for missing information without hiding the concern about the deadline.

9. 9. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

   Which response asks for a concrete example that would help the employee improve?

   Manager: “Your emails to clients need a more professional tone.”

   • Should I make all my emails longer?
   • So you want me to stop emailing clients?
   • Could you point to a sentence and show me how you'd phrase it?
   • Does that mean my work is poor overall?

   A broad description becomes more useful when connected to actual wording.

   Show solution

   • Could you point to a sentence and show me how you'd phrase it?

   Asking for an example turns a vague standard into something the employee can understand and apply.

10. 10. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

    Which reply acknowledges the coworker's intention while still addressing the effect of the interruptions?

    You: “When you interrupted the discussion, two people didn't get to explain their concerns.”
    Coworker: “I was only trying to help us reach a decision faster.”

    • If you were trying to help, then there's no problem to discuss.
    • I understand you wanted to save time. Still, we missed their concerns. Next time, could you let them finish before suggesting a decision?
    • Your intention doesn't matter, so there's no reason to explain it.
    • They should have spoken more quickly if they wanted us to hear their concerns.

    A helpful intention and an unwanted effect can both be real.

    Show solution

    • I understand you wanted to save time. Still, we missed their concerns. Next time, could you let them finish before suggesting a decision?

    Acknowledging someone's intention does not require dismissing the effect. You can recognize both and propose a change.

11. 11. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

    What has the coworker actually confirmed?

    Manager: “Could you send the revised draft by three? We need time to review it before the client meeting.”
    Coworker: “I understand why you need it then. I'm not sure I can finish the revisions by three.”

    • The coworker has agreed to deliver the draft by three.
    • The coworker believes the review before the client meeting is unnecessary.
    • The coworker refuses to make any revisions.
    • The coworker understands the reason but has not committed to the deadline.

    Understanding a request is not the same as agreeing to carry it out.

    Show solution

    • The coworker understands the reason but has not committed to the deadline.

    Before treating a plan as agreed, check that the person has explicitly accepted the action and deadline.

12. 12. Pilih jawapan yang betul.

    Which reply acknowledges the employee's part in the problem and asks the manager to resolve conflicting priorities?

    Manager: “You missed one of yesterday's deadlines.”
    The manager had assigned two tasks due that afternoon. Each needed the full afternoon to complete, and the employee had not raised the conflict.

    • I should have raised the conflict sooner. Both tasks needed the full afternoon. If that happens again, which should take priority?
    • You're right. Next time I'll promise to finish both by the deadline, even if they require the same time.
    • The deadlines conflicted, so there was no point telling you that I couldn't meet both.
    • I completed the task I preferred, so I don't think the other deadline should count.

    Take responsibility for communication without pretending the workload was possible.

    Show solution

    • I should have raised the conflict sooner. Both tasks needed the full afternoon. If that happens again, which should take priority?

    A balanced reply owns the missed warning, explains the constraint, and seeks a workable priority for next time.