Keep the truth. Change the delivery.

A colleague has asked for your feedback on a proposal. Its structure is confusing, the budget figures are inconsistent and the recommendation is difficult to find. You think the work needs substantial revision.

Your first reaction is: “Your proposal is a complete mess.”

Some people call this being brutally honest. But does the brutality help the honesty — or just make the message harder to hear? Your job is to preserve the truth while changing the delivery.

1. Be direct but professional: Rewrite your response without hiding the seriousness of the problems.
2. Be constructive: Make the feedback specific enough to help the colleague improve the proposal.
3. Be tactful: Imagine the colleague is already anxious about the project. Adapt your wording while keeping the same essential message.

Extra challenge: Say your best version aloud. Does your tone support the words, or does it undermine them?