It's not always easy to give someone negative feedback, especially when you have to do it over email. If you can't explain your feedback in person, this one little word can keep it from sounding too harsh.

Feedback is tough to give, especially over email when you don't have body language or facial expressions to help you come across the right way. Include these three elements in emailed feedback to focus on the work rather than dwelling on the criticism.

If you want feedback on your work, it's easy enough to get it. Just ask your boss. However, if you want especially useful feedback, talk to the people who benefit from your work.

Nobody likes to be told they're doing something wrong, especially not in a workplace. Some people dislike it more than others; they may feel anger or embarrassment when they are being criticised, by their peers or their superiors. But feedback is an important part of professional development and learning to deal with criticism -- rather than stewing over it -- will contribute to a more fruitful career.

The further you get in your career, the harder it is to pinpoint -- and then do something about -- your personal and professional shortcomings. Why is that? How do you figure out your weak spots and then address them?

Van Gogh may now be widely recognised as one of the most influential and creative artists of all time, but he died alone and penniless. Why? Because 100 years ago his canvas' were seen as the hallucinatory original works of a sociopathic recluse. It wasn't until years later, when other artists and critics had defined a new aesthetic criteria for art, that his works were accepted as creative masterpieces.

The "sandwich" method of feedback, where you squish criticism between compliments to smooth it over, is played out and everyone knows it. Most of us cringe when we hear someone suggest it, and even when it works, it's obvious. Adam Grant, author and professor, says it's time to just give it up, and we agree.

No matter what you do for a living, at some point or another you're going to have to communicate how you feel about someone else's work. On the surface, giving feedback may sound easy. However, when you're put on the spot -- whether it's to share your thoughts on a new website design or on a colleague in a 360 review -- the moments we're asked to give feedback can be tough.

Everyone occasionally has a critic that can't help but share their opinions. Sometimes they have a good point, but listen to them too much and you'll never act. The Think, Act, Forget method helps you deal with critics constructively.

Giving criticism isn't easy, especially if the person you're giving it to is sensitive. This approach lets you keep criticism in a positive light so your feedback comes across as constructive, not harsh.

Complaining to a company can be a good way to get free stuff as compensation. But who wants free stuff from a company they don't like? Try writing a letter to the companies you do like instead.

When you're working on an idea, it's tempting to wait until it's nearing completion to get feedback. However, you may lock yourself out of ideas by waiting.

Your critics aren't always going to be the nicest people to interact with. To take the criticism effectively without the emotional hit to the self-esteem, ignore how it's delivered.

Constructive criticism is a pretty awesome tool for figuring out how to improve your efforts. At the same time, criticism might say more about the person giving it than it does your own work. It can be helpful to remember this if you have trouble taking criticism too personally.

Self-awareness is important. It can help you figure out how to hone certain skills, adapt to situations and make better decisions. To understand yourself a little better, make a habit of asking for regular feedback.

Nobody likes getting criticism, which is silly. Criticism is a great way to improve yourself. If you want to get better feedback, and improve your reaction to it, respond to criticism with a heartfelt "Thank you."

Nobody likes to get negative feedback, but how you choose to react is important. When someone gives you negative feedback, explicitly ask for some time to think things over and avoid any unnecessary confrontation.

When you know someone can be really defensive, it makes giving them any sort of constructive criticism a battle you'd probably rather avoid. If something needs to be said, it all depends on the clarity of your message and how you communicate it.

It's easy to assume that pointing out a mistake constitutes as feedback, and it does to an extent. But that's similar to telling your partner it's raining outside and not handing them an umbrella. Feedback is instructive language that positively influences behaviour. It has an assumed intrinsic benefit: it provides knowledge on how to improve what we do and how we do it. It helps us grow and become better.