When I first stepped into leadership, I thought being nice was the same as being supportive. So I sugarcoated feedback. Softened my language. Hoped they’d “read between the lines.” But here’s what I’ve learned: Unclear feedback isn’t kind. It’s confusing. And it doesn’t help people grow. As a manager, it’s your job to be kind and clear. Here are some examples: ❌ 1. “You’re doing great overall, just a few little things to tweak…” ✅ “You’ve made strong progress. Let’s talk about two specific areas