Which of the following statements best phrases a negative comment positively?
A) You don't have an eye for detail, but you really do have a great sense of the big picture.
B) You do a good job at visualizing the big picture, and you'd be even more effective if you improved your attention to detail.
C) I don't know anyone better than you at seeing the big picture, but you could really stand to improve your attention to detail.
D) You need to improve your attention to detail, but you're already wonderful at seeing the big picture.
E) Please don't take this the wrong way, but you'd be more effective if you pay more attention to detail.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

B) David C. Novak's advice is to start out positively and avoid the word "but." If you start out by giving people credit for what they do well, that makes them very receptive for feedback. According to Novak, if you then preface the constructive criticism with "but" instead of "and," it throws all the appreciation out the window.

Which of the Following Statements Best Phrases a Negative Comment