Clarity Practice Tool
Feedback Clarity Builder
Turn a messy feedback moment into a clear message you can use.
Direct doesn’t have to sound harsh.
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Assess
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Describe
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Explain
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Specify
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Build
What feels risky about saying this clearly?
Before you build the feedback, name what may be making this harder to say clearly.
I’m worried this will sound:
Name the cost in concrete terms. This helps you stay clear when the conversation feels uncomfortable.
What actually happened?
Start with what someone else could observe too.
Clarity check: Could they reasonably say, “That didn’t happen”? If yes, add more observable detail.
Why does it matter?
Name the consequence without turning it into a character judgment.
What did this affect?
A clear observation without impact can sound like a preference. Impact shows why it matters.
What needs to happen next?
Set a clear expectation for what happens next.
Clarity check: Could both of you tell next week whether this happened? If not, tighten the expectation.
Add support without losing clarity
Add a brief line of support or a question, but don’t let it bury the point.
Add a brief support line?
Choose one
Include a question?
Choose one
Build Your Feedback:
Your feedback draft will appear here.