Beware the Sandwich Method of giving Feedback.
Nobody likes receiving negative feedback.
So when I learnt about the Sandwich feedback model years ago, I loved it.
I thought it was a great method of delivering negative feedback, in a way that lessons the emotional blow for the receiving party. And thus, will thus be more open to accepting the criticisms.
@clementspio 🥪 Sandwich Feedback Model? Yay or nay? It’s still a decent way to make negative feedback more easily accepted. It’s more effective when 1. You have genuine praises 2. The receipient is pre-empted that there’s be both positive and negative feedback 3. It’s concluded with a summary (Oh also, when you have time for a more wholesome feedback/review session) This way you get all the benefits of this model, give genuine praises, and the critiques remain well emphasised. 😊 #communication #feedback #leadership ♬ Beat – beaty
For those who are hearing about this for the first time, the Sandwich Feedback Model is basically sandwiching a negative critique in between 2 positives praises, just like how the slobbery tasty filling of your sandwich is slapped in between 2 slices of bread.
Makes the slobbery messy sandwich easier to to eat, in this case, helps the feedback be accepted more readily.
I still use this method a lot when giving feedback to clients, to friends, often at times when there are genuine praises and critiques to give at the same time.
But as time passed, I became a victim of too much sandwich feedback.
Whenever I receive a positive feedback, I’d naturally expect something negative to follow.
And sometimes I can’t tell if the praise I’ve received were genuine ones, or just there to be part of the sandwich.
I’ve also encountered people who totally missed the critique, and interpreted the well sandwiched feedback as an overall positive review.
So now, whenever I want to share my feedback with someone, I don’t just use the Sandwich Feedback, I use my version of the Sandwich Feedback Plus.
That is, in every feedback, sandwich or not, I’d include a menu, and a receipt.
Adding a Menu – Give a Preview
I’d start off with the menu – which is to give a preview of what I’m going to say.
“With regards to the interaction with the client just now, can I share my observations with you? There are 2 areas which I noticed you handled very well, and another 2 areas which I believe could have been handled better next time.”
This way, I make it clear that
- I have both positive and negative feedback to share
- They are equally important
It also forces me to be complete with my praises, and not fall into the trap of saying for the sake of the sandwich.
So that’s the Menu.
Ending with a Receipt – A Summary of the Sandwich Feedback
After delivering the feedback package, I’d also make sure to end with a Receipt.
That is, to summarise the entire feedback conversation.
“Thanks for being receptive to my feedback. Just to recap, the way you kept your cool and your clarity in your explanations to the client was impressive. Do keep it up. Be careful of misrepresentations especially when it comes to unfamiliar information, and offer to get back to the client a later date.”
With a summary like this, the entire feedback is complete, and give appropriate emphasis to both your praise and critiques.
Make the Sandwich Feedback Plus model a habit, add a Menu preview at the start and end off with a summary as a Receipt. Helps you tailor the feedback to different audiences too.
Much more effective that the original, and that’s when you have to beware the Sandwich Method of giving Feedback.