Utvecklingssamtal Expressions
Swedish feedback culture in phrases — ta åt sig, växa i rollen, konstruktiv kritik and lyfta fram.
The utvecklingssamtal at work, idiom by idiom: dra sitt lass, läsa mellan raderna, svart på vitt — how to give feedback, take it, and leave with three goals instead of ten.
- 1
utvecklingssamtalet
the development review
Tip: lit. 'the development conversation' — annual, and taken seriously.
- 2
ge feedback
to give feedback
Tip: lit. the same — the English word is fully naturalised.
- 3
konstruktiv kritik
constructive criticism
Tip: lit. the same — the socially acceptable kind.
- 4
ta åt sig
to take criticism to heart
Tip: lit. 'take to oneself' — often means taking it too personally.
- 5
lyfta fram någons styrkor
to highlight someone's strengths
Tip: lit. 'lift forward someone's strengths'.
- 6
utvecklingsområden
room for improvement
Tip: lit. 'development areas' — the Swedish euphemism for weaknesses.
- 7
växa i rollen
to grow into the role
Tip: lit. 'grow in the role'.
- 8
sätta mål för året
to set goals for the year
Tip: lit. the same.
- 9
följa upp från förra gången
to follow up on last time
Tip: lit. the same.
- 10
vara på rätt spår
to be on the right track
Tip: lit. 'be on the right track'.
- 11
leverera det man lovat
to deliver on your promises
Tip: lit. 'deliver what one promised'.
- 12
gå det lilla extra
to go the extra mile
Tip: lit. 'go the little extra'.
- 13
dra sitt lass
to pull your weight
Tip: lit. 'pull one's load'.
- 14
vara en lagspelare
to be a team player
Tip: lit. the same — high praise in Sweden.
- 15
ta egna initiativ
to take initiative
Tip: lit. 'take own initiatives'.
- 16
säga vad man tycker
to speak your mind
Tip: lit. 'say what one thinks'.
- 17
läsa mellan raderna
to read between the lines
Tip: lit. the same — essential in Swedish feedback.
- 18
linda in det
to sugar-coat something
Tip: lit. 'wrap it in'.
- 19
vara rak mot någon
to be straight with someone
Tip: lit. 'be straight towards someone'.
- 20
ta ett steg tillbaka
to take a step back and look at it
Tip: lit. the same.
- 21
ha en blind fläck
to have a blind spot
Tip: lit. the same.
- 22
få en obehaglig överraskning
to be thrown a curveball
Tip: lit. 'get an unpleasant surprise'.
- 23
reda ut det
to clear the air
Tip: lit. 'sort it out'.
- 24
vara överens om målen
to be on the same page about goals
Tip: lit. 'be agreed about the goals'.
- 25
få det svart på vitt
to put it in writing
Tip: lit. 'get it black on white'.
- 26
blicka framåt
to look ahead
Tip: lit. 'gaze forward'.
- 27
en klapp på axeln
a pat on the back
Tip: lit. 'a pat on the shoulder'.
- 28
förbereda sig i förväg
to prepare beforehand
Tip: lit. the same — you're expected to.
- 29
en självskattning
a self-assessment form
Tip: lit. the same — filled in before the meeting.
- 30
boka en timme
to book an hour
Tip: lit. the same.
- 31
ses någonstans neutralt
to meet somewhere neutral
Tip: lit. the same — often a walk.
- 32
ett gåmöte
a walking meeting
Tip: lit. 'a walking meeting' — genuinely common here.
- 33
prata om året som gått
to talk about the year that's been
Tip: lit. the same.
- 34
vad har gått bra?
what has gone well?
Tip: lit. the same — always the first question.
- 35
vad har varit svårt?
what has been difficult?
Tip: lit. the same.
- 36
vara ärlig utan att klaga
to be honest without complaining
Tip: lit. the same — the fine line.
- 37
ta upp något jobbigt
to raise something difficult
Tip: lit. the same.
- 38
det är en sak jag vill säga
there's something I want to say
Tip: lit. the same.
- 39
känna sig underskattad
to feel undervalued
Tip: lit. the same.
- 40
vilja ha mer ansvar
to want more responsibility
Tip: lit. the same.
- 41
vilja ha mindre
to want less
Tip: lit. the same — a legitimate answer.
- 42
en utvecklingsplan
a development plan
Tip: lit. the same.
- 43
tre mål, inte tio
three goals, not ten
Tip: lit. the same.
- 44
skriva ner det tillsammans
to write it down together
Tip: lit. the same.
- 45
boka en uppföljning
to agree a follow-up date
Tip: lit. the same.
- 46
inget ska komma som en överraskning här
nothing should be a surprise here
Tip: lit. the same — the principle of good feedback.
- 47
tack, det var givande
thanks, that was useful
Tip: lit. 'thanks, that was rewarding'.