How do I give my employee tough feedback?
Short answer
Soon. Specific. In private. About behavior, not personality. Then ask them what they heard.
The shape
'Yesterday on the Smith job, I noticed [specific thing]. The impact was [specific impact]. Next time I want [specific behavior]. What's your read on it?'
Specific, short, ends in a question. Not a speech. Not a sandwich of fake compliments.
What to avoid
Saving it up for the annual review. Saying 'you always' or 'you never'. Doing it in front of the team. Each one destroys trust faster than the original problem.
Ask your version of this question
This is one business owner-tested take. Your shop size, trade, and team change the answer. Ask the exact version inside Ask a Shop Owner and get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.