Great advice from author and business expert Bob Bly here on a great way to manage people (especially sales professionals).
It's possible to criticize someone's work in a way that softens the blow and preserves the recipient's ego. I learned how to do it from Terry Smith, my boss back in the days when I was an employee at Westinghouse.
First you say, "Here's what I liked" - and then recap at least three positive points. (If you look hard enough, it's impossible not to find at least three good things to say about almost anything.)
Then you say, "Now, if it were mine to do..." - and proceed with your
list of specific criticisms. Putting it this way implies that what you are telling the recipient is your opinion, and not an accusation of incompetence or shoddy work on his part.
I used a similar technique back in my days of sales management with Pitney Bowes. Whenever you can soften the blow, train, teach and manage with one simple strategy, it's worth it.
Don't know if that's how Michael from "The Office" would handle it, but... 
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