“Even better” than “better”…………

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

The other day I asked for feedback on a video I did.

 

My friend who I asked to give me honest feedback told me that what I did was “better” than a previous version. But then he suggested that it would be “even better” if I did A + B…….

 

I did not feel defensive at all. I actually felt quite positive about the feedback because when he said “even better”, I heard it as (in my head):

 

“It’s actually quite good already, but by doing this and that, you could make it “even better”….

 

I was really affected (positively) by the “even” before the “better”. It made me feel enough and yet hungry for more. It lifted my self esteem.  It also gave me a direction and hope.

 

So the next couple of days, I used it on several occasions when I was the feedback giver. My tests show that yes, it is more effective to tell someone that she could do it “even better”, or get an “even better” result……….by considering this or that……………

 

One thing I have realised is that giving or receiving feedback is not easy. Every word or nuance, and eyebrow matters……………