Clear, thorough, reliable, precise, early, calm, generous, honest, consistent, resourceful. Forty more below, grouped by what they describe. But the most useful word in positive feedback is "because." "Reliable, because every date you gave this quarter held." The adjective is the label. The because is the feedback.
Words by what they describe
Quality of work. Precise, thorough, clear, polished, accurate, well-structured, complete, careful.
Reliability. Dependable, consistent, punctual, early, steady, prepared, organized, on-time.
Teamwork. Generous, supportive, collaborative, candid, constructive, inclusive, responsive, fair.
Communication. Plain, direct, concise, honest, calm, specific, thoughtful, timely.
Growth. Curious, resourceful, adaptable, coachable, persistent, proactive, reflective, improving.
Why the word alone is not enough
"You're thorough" tells the person you think well of them. It does not tell them what to repeat. "Thorough, because you checked every number against the source and nothing came back" does. The because turns an adjective into something they can do again on Monday.
Three templates
- "[Word], because [specific action]. [Effect]. Keep doing that."
- "That was [word]. The [piece of work] had [specific detail], and [result]."
- "I'd describe your work on this as [word]: [action] meant [effect]."
Words to use carefully
"Perfect" leaves nowhere to go. "Amazing" inflates. "Finally" is a complaint in disguise. "Hard-working" praises hours instead of results. Describe the work, and the word will usually find itself.
Where M-Tracker fits
The because needs a record. In M-Tracker, each task has a brief and each piece of work is checked against it, with the review saved. A manager can see that the numbers matched, the brief was met first time, the estimate held. The positive words come with their because attached, which is the only way they help.
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Questions people ask
Is "good job" ever enough?
As a reaction in the moment, fine. As feedback, add the because.
How many positive words should a review use?
Fewer, with evidence, beats many without.
What is the best single word?
"Because."
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