How to give feedback and correct someone nicely and effectively. Are you hungry? Are you hungry? I hope you’re hungry because I’m all about the feedback sandwich. This is a way of helping people get the constructive feedback that they need to correct mistakes but still feel good about it. Not feel like a total bum and miserable piece of junk because you just told them whatever they did was no good. This is especially useful in parenting and relationships because a lot of times most of the reactions are emotionally charged and you can’t really talk to emotions.
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So, the feedback sandwich is bread, meat, bread. The bread is something good and nice and warm and finding the positive side of what they’ve done and the good work that they’ve done, focusing on the process and the effort that’s been supplied. Followed by a very to the point objective, not judgmental, comment about what you would like corrected. (the meat)
Followed up by another piece of bread and a nice comment of how much you appreciate them and what great work they’ve done for you. I mean, if its kids, you’ll probably be more lovey-dovey about it. But, its following it up with another shorter statement about the work that they’ve done and how much you appreciate it and you appreciate their goodness. That’s it, it really is.
So, instead of going up to someone and saying “Oh my goodness, that report that you turned in is a pile of crap!”, you would say something along the lines of I really appreciate that fact that you were able to compile this information in a short manner and in such a presentable fashion that we would have it ready for our client this afternoon. (bread piece 1)
There are a couple little things here I would like to change about it (the meat) that I think would help clear up some of the presentation. For instance, these bullets could be revised in this way and moved over to this page for a little bit better organization.
And then anther piece of bread; I really do think that this presentation and this information that you provided here is going to help the customer realize that we A. know what we are talking about, B. are interested in solving their problems, and C. will have a good relationship from here on out.
That’s kind of the example I’m talking about as far as feedback sandwiches go.
Don’t just jump straight into this presentation is crap and you need to redo it. Give them a better understanding of the situation without making them feel like junk about it, you know what I’m saying? Good. Give it a shot, take some practice, but just remember the sandwich.
The bread is the good, the meat is the, in this case, the meat is the bad. All other cases, well, meat’s good. There you go! Feedback sandwich. Be nice, get stuff done, and keep your friends and family feeling good.