Whether you’re telling your partner they’ve made an error, or explaining to a client that you disagree with their direction, giving feedback isn’t always easy (or well-received). Leo Babauta, creator of Zen Habits, shares some tricks for giving criticism without being critical, and here are our favorites:

1. Frame your feedback as a suggestion or possible solution, i.e. “What if we tried red instead of blue?”

2. Keep it positive, i.e. “I love what you did here, but what if we changed this…”

3. Be specific. Instead of saying, “Your article could be better,” (which is hard to hear) say, “I think the intro could be more direct and engaging.”

4. Be kind. Delivery is everything when it comes to giving criticism, so remember to be gentle and empathetic as you make your suggestions. 

5. Make sure your criticism is actionable. There’s nothing worse that receiving feedback on a project that’s already been submitted. Make sure your criticisms are actually executable before voicing them aloud.

Read Babauta’s full post here.

This article was originally published on 99u.com.

Jenn is the associate director of partnerships for Behance, working with clients like Pantone, AOL, RISD and Wacom. Prior to joining Behance, Jenn was the senior marketing manager for The Drake Hotel in Toronto. Say hello on Twitter. 

Photo: Shutterstock