What are some good ways managers can practice the art of constructive criticism? In the latest Mediabistro feature, eBay’s former COO and other career experts weigh in with their tips. Here’s an excerpt:

Be prepared

Probably the easiest and most popular response to a manager’s complaint is “I didn’t know this was an issue.” Get ahead of that response by communicating your expectations early and by having regular, honest meetings with staffers.  Maynard Webb, eBay’s long-time COO and author of Rebooting Work: Transform How You Work in the Age of Entrepreneurship, says regular check-ins make critiques less surprising and easier to accept. “I’ve often implemented informal weekly and formal quarterly check-ins in an effort to force a dialogue and prevent a big disconnect when employees find out they weren’t doing as well as their perception led them to believe,” Webb said.

For more, read How to Give Employees Feedback Without Killing Morale. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]