Give Effective Feedback and Get Results with the “Feedback Sandwich”

All of us love to give feedback when it’s positive. However, most of us are much less comfortable with difficult conversations, like expressing dissatisfaction, suggesting changes or analyzing someone’s performance.

When you have to deliver negative feedback, handling it with sensitivity will help the other person to receive your message without becoming defensive. As an added bonus, you will also feel more comfortable about the message you need to deliver.

The “Feedback Sandwich” is one of the best ways to make sure your message is heard. What this means is that you “sandwich” the suggestion for improvement or critique between two positive statements. So what are the steps to making this sandwich?

1. Prepare what you want to say by starting with praise, then request for change, and closing with encouragement. Know exactly what you are going to say before you start the conversation.

2. Start the conversation with something positive.

3. Give the critical feedback or suggestion for improvement using “I” statements, and no “buts”.

4. Provide encouragement for success!

By delivering your feedback along with some genuine, positive comments, the other person is much more likely to hear your message and make the desired changes.