Don't compare anyone with others Never compare with others while criticizing as it can hurt one's self-respect. It's very vital to state the feedback or the criticism without threatening the self-respect of the person. If the feedback gets personal at some level, it will lead to into a sub-debate that will be counter-productive. Emphasis should be on one's strengths, rather than finding his weaknesses compared to others. It must be direct and two-way As the message itself, the delivery of the message also matters a lot. If the feedback is delivered through e-mail, or in a simple document left on an employee's desk, chances are there that it will be set aside or even deleted. Therefore, while giving a feedback or criticizing someone, the manager should make sure that the conversation is direct and two-way. The employee should be given enough opportunity to lay sown his or thought.