When someone asks you for feedback, it’s good to first ask them what feedback they’d like.
Even though you have been invited for feedback, it’s unlikely that the person is keen to receive your unfiltered opinion.
If you do so, you risk sharing something that’s not relevant to what they’re really looking for.
Worse still, you risk offending them. You may wonder why someone would be offended if you give feedback after being asked for it, but egos are fragile and words can still cut deep. It’s likely that the person has approached you because you have a certain lens they’d like you to apply to their work or their situation, and receiving anything beyond that may come as a shock.
The easiest way to avoid this negative experience is having the person define what they really want from you first, and for you to then clarify this position before you share what you think.
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