The Precise Language Of Good Management

Managers often think any feedback is better than none, but vague language creates confusion and hidden friction. The article shows that precise wording lets you surface trade-offs, set clear expectations, and keep performance discussions honest. It starts with the classic "How am I doing?" question, recommending a pause and a promise to follow up rather than a half-hearted compliment that hides real concerns.

In performance reviews the piece contrasts generic praise like "great engineer" with concrete actions such as "showed impressive persistence during shifting requirements". By anchoring feedback to observable behavior, managers give engineers a roadmap for growth and avoid the illusion that a junior can be "already great". The same logic applies when a leader asks if a team can take on new work; the right answer is to acknowledge uncertainty and outline implications before committing.

The appendix expands the idea with real-world phrasing for promotions, PIPs, hiring decisions, goal setting, and upward feedback. Each pair replaces vague promises with measurable timelines, probabilities, or data points, showing how specificity builds trust and reduces misinterpretation. For technical leaders, adopting this disciplined language habit means fewer surprise performance drops, clearer career paths, and more effective alignment across the organization.