Better Feedback Starts Here
Giving feedback is not always easy.
In this week’s newsletter, let’s focus on something we do a lot.
Giving feedback.
It’s not always easy.
But having the right words can make it a lot easier – both to speak up and to be heard.
Here are 7 phrases I rely on.
They help me give feedback that’s clear, constructive, and more likely to lead to change.
1. “This is a great start.”
Use this when you want to acknowledge effort, without implying the work is ready to ship.
Too many people default to “Looks good” when they really mean “Good first attempt.” But saying “Looks good” sets the wrong expectation – it suggests finality.
“This is a great start” threads the needle.
It recognizes effort while signaling there’s more to do.
2. “I noticed…”
Use this when you want to keep feedback grounded in observation, not judgment.
It’s the difference between being personal and being perceptive.
🚫 “You’re long-winded.”
✅ “I noticed it took a while to get to your main point in the last team meeting.”
This phrasing helps your feedback feel more neutral, factual, constructive, and collaborative.
3. “At the same time…”
Use this when you want to avoid the negativity of “but”.
“But” tends to cancel out whatever came before it. It can feel like a contradiction – or worse, a dismissal.
“At the same time” lets you hold space for two truths.
It softens transitions, especially when you're challenging an idea while acknowledging its merits.
✅ “You led the client call with a lot of confidence, and that helped set a great tone. At the same time, jumping straight into the solution left them with a few unanswered questions about how we got there.”
4. “Even more…”
Use this when giving feedback to a manager or someone at your seniority level.
It’s hard to give upward feedback. This framing helps.
By saying something could be “even more” effective, you show respect for what’s already working – and signal a desire to make something stronger, not tear it down.
✅ “You’ve set a clear vision for the team this quarter. It could be even more impactful if we tied it to a few measurable goals so everyone knows how to track progress.”
5. “I believe you were trying to do X, but it didn’t quite work because Y. I suggest trying Z.”
Use this to align on intent and improve execution.
This is one of my go-tos. It signals thoughtfulness, understanding, and problem-solving all in one. It shows you're not just pointing out a flaw – you're actively helping make it better.
✅ “I believe you were trying to make the onboarding process feel simple and welcoming, but right now the first few screens feel a bit dense. I suggest breaking them into shorter steps and adding a quick progress bar so users feel less overwhelmed.”
6. “Already…”
Use this to amplify strengths, especially when encouraging behavior change.
People are more likely to take action when it feels like a continuation, not a course correction.
✅ “You’re already doing this in small meetings. I’d love to see you bring that same clarity to our company-wide updates.”
It’s a way to build confidence and momentum at the same time.
7. “Based on the data points I have…” / “From what I’ve seen…”
Use this to avoid overreaching.
This phrasing makes it clear you're sharing perspective – not a universal truth.
It also makes feedback less threatening. You're not labeling someone. You’re sharing what you've observed, not what you assume.
✅ “From what I’ve seen in your recent presentations, you tend to cover a lot of detail upfront. That can sometimes make it harder for the audience to follow your main point. You might try starting with the takeaway first, then backing it up with details.”
Which of these are you most likely to try this week?
📰 News, Updates, and Resources Worth Your Time
Alex Panagis (👋hey, that’s me!) Talking Tech, AI, and Content with Remkus de Vries, WithinWP
I sat down with Remkus for a conversation on his WithinWP podcast to explore topics ranging from growth, marketing, content, AI & more.
All-New Figma Sites. A First Look & Hands-On, Jeffrey @ Lightbox
At Figma Config this past week, Figma announced Figma Sites. A competitor to Framer, Wix, and other visual site design platforms.
AI Spurs Shift to Usage-Based Pricing Models, Business Insider
The integration of AI into SaaS platforms is prompting a significant move away from traditional seat-based pricing. Companies like OpenAI, Vercel, and Replit are adopting usage-based billing to align with the high computational costs of AI services. This transition aims to better match revenue with infrastructure expenses, though it introduces new challenges in forecasting and customer budgeting.
Private Equity Market Faces Headwinds, Axios
Despite a 19% increase in deal volume compared to early 2024, private equity firms are expressing caution due to economic uncertainties and potential policy changes, such as The White House’s push to close the carried interest tax loophole. This environment is leading to a more conservative approach to investments, with a focus on credit and secondary strategies.
3D Spark Secures €2 Million to Enhance Manufacturing SaaS, EU-Startups
Hamburg-based startup 3D Spark has raised €2 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered platform that assists businesses in selecting optimal manufacturing options. The platform analyzes various production methods to identify cost-effective and sustainable solutions, aiming to revolutionize industrial procurement processes.
✍️ Become A Better Writer – Pronouns Gone Rogue
In this week’s installment of Become a Better Writer, we’re focusing on a sneaky clarity killer: ambiguous pronouns.
Words like it, this, that, and they may feel harmless, but when used carelessly, they can confuse your reader – or worse, accidentally imply something you didn’t mean to say.
In technical and product writing, ambiguity slows readers down. In support docs or onboarding flows, it can lead to frustration, misunderstandings, and unnecessary back-and-forth.
Why It Matters
Pronouns are only helpful when their reference is obvious. If your sentence includes more than one potential subject, your reader is left to guess what “it” or “they” is referring to.
Here’s how that can go wrong:
Real-World Examples
Example 1: Technical Docs Confusion
🔴 After activating the plugin, restart the server. It should now be working properly.
What does “it” refer to? The plugin? The server? The site?
🟢 After activating the plugin, restart the server. The plugin should now be working properly.
No ambiguity.
Example 2: Two Possible Nouns
🔴 The form collects data from the user and sends it to the database. It must be secure.
What must be secure – the form, the database, or the data?
🟢 The form must be secure before sending any user data to the database.
Clear and direct.
Example 3: UX Copy
🔴 Users can reset their password or update their email. This should only take a few minutes.
Which task is quick – password reset, email update, or both?
🟢 Both actions should only take a few minutes to complete.
Specific and helpful.
Example 4: Accidentally Blaming the User 😂
🔴 The system flags errors for users and explains why they caused the problem.
Who caused the problem – users or the system? This phrasing puts the blame squarely (and perhaps unfairly) on the user.
🟢 The system flags errors and explains which user actions may have triggered them.
More accurate and less accusatory.
Example 5: Inadvertently Insulting the Customer 😬
🔴 The support agent reviewed the customer’s message and confirmed that they misunderstood the instructions.
Wait – who misunderstood? Could be read as the agent or the customer. Either way, it sounds unnecessarily blunt.
🟢 The support agent reviewed the customer’s message and confirmed that the instructions had been unclear.
Clear, constructive, and customer-friendly.
How to Correct It: A Quick Checklist
Here’s a simple way to catch and fix ambiguous pronouns in your writing:
✅ Step 1: Scan for pronouns like it, this, that, they, these, those.
✅ Step 2: Ask yourself – what exactly is this referring to?
✅ Step 3: If there’s more than one possible noun before it – rewrite!
✅ Step 4: Use the actual noun again, even if it feels repetitive.
Clarity always beats trying to be clever.
– Justin
😅 Something fun
Thank you for reading & see you next week.
Meanwhile, keep doing the work that matters™.
Yours,
– Alex, Justin, and Naman at ScaleMath 💌