How to Give Feedback When the Stakes Are High

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How do you think through and deliver a meaningful feedback message when the stakes are high or the message is hard?

The first thing you can do to improve the feedback you give is simply to prepare for the conversation. Ideally, preparation does two things: 

1. It helps you not respond in a reflexive or reactive way.
2. It helps you focus the content of your message on behavior.

Read on to learn how effective leaders give feedback.