Download Article
Download Article
Do you ever feel like your feedback is falling on deaf ears? Consider switching your style and giving a feedback sandwich. With this method, you start by giving a positive, encouraging statement. Follow that with constructive criticism, and then offer some more positive words. The positive statements are the “bread” of the sandwich and the criticism is the “filling”. Whether you’re a boss, a teacher, or a parent, you might find that this is the method that works for you! You can also focus on ways to give effective feedback in any situation.
Steps
-
Start with a compliment. Begin the conversation by saying something positive to the other person. You want to start this talk on a positive note. It will help keep the other person from becoming defensive. [1] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source- You might say, “It’s great that your sales have increased since last month.”
-
Be specific. Make sure that your compliment is not vague. That might leave the other person feeling like your feedback isn’t directly applicable to them. Include direct statements about their performance. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source- Tell your son, “Thomas, I am proud of you for using your words to resolve that argument with your sister.”
Advertisement -
Be sincere. Don’t compliment someone just for the sake of it. You risk coming off as phony and damaging your credibility. Find something that you honestly feel the person did well to talk about.- You could say, “John, you’ve worked really hard to make your emails more polite. All of your team members really appreciate it.”
-
End with an encouraging statement. You will also wrap up your talk by offering some additional positive words. This is the second piece of bread in the feedback sandwich. This helps ensure that the conversation ends on a positive note. [3] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source- Try saying, “Amy, you’re off to a great start with this paper. I’m looking forward to helping you develop that thesis statement.”
- You can also reiterate your first positive statement. For example, “Again, I can really tell that you are making an effort to craft more constructive emails.”
Advertisement
-
Offer constructive criticism. Do not just tell the person what they are doing wrong. Constructive criticism means that you also need to provide some ideas on how they can improve. Tell them what they are doing wrong, then tell them how to fix it. [4] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source- You can say, “Your sales are nearly 20% below your target, and you have not met your goals for the past three months. Let’s work together to expand your network and improve your pitch.”
-
Be direct. Do not try to dodge the issue. Get straight to the point. After your positive statement, deliver the feedback in clear, straightforward terms. [5] X Trustworthy Source Edutopia Educational nonprofit organization focused on encouraging and celebrating classroom innovation Go to source- Say, “You need to improve your sales in the next month, or we will have to rethink your role on the team.”
-
Be brief. Don’t ramble on. Your statement should be direct, and it should also be brief. You’ll be able to follow up on the issue later. During the feedback sandwich, keep it short so that your message is easy to understand. [6] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Family Physicians Organization devoted to improving the health of patients, families, and communities Go to source- If you were to write out your feedback, the “filling” would probably not be longer than a paragraph.
-
Give clear guidelines. The point of giving feedback is to help the other person succeed. Avoid telling them vaguely what you need from them. Instead, give specific goals to meet. [7] X Research source- You could say, “You need to meet your sales goals every month. Let’s work together to adjust your target until you are able to meet your original goal. We will need to meet each week to discuss your progress.”
Advertisement
-
Be objective. Avoid using “I” statements. These are things like “I don’t like how you did this” or “I feel like you are not trying”. Instead, use actual facts to support the points you are making. Say, “You have not turned in the past three assignments. That demonstrates a lack of commitment to this class.” -
Focus on the situation instead of the person. Leave your personal feelings out of it. Sure, you might feel some negativity towards the other person, or maybe you just don’t click. Don’t let that inform the criticism that you are giving.- Instead of saying, “You’re not helping the team” try saying, “It frustrates your colleagues when you fail to show up on time for meetings.”
- Avoid criticizing the person's character or motives. [8]
X
Expert Source
Lily Zheng, MA
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant Expert Interview. 22 November 2019.
-
Give task specific suggestions. Try to avoid giving vague suggestions for improved performance. Something like, “You need to do better” is not really helpful. Instead, talk about the actual thing that needs improvement. [9] X Research source- Make your feedback actionable. Give the other person tangible things that they need to do. [10] X Trustworthy Source Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Nonprofit organization providing innovative, effective educational resources for educators designed to support student achievement Go to source
- Instead of “You need to help more around the house” try “You need to make your bed and feed the dog every morning before school.”
-
Give timely feedback. Try to give your feedback when it can still be helpful. If you wait until you are completely dissatisfied, there might not be much time left to salvage the situation. If you notice a problem, address it quickly. If given correctly, your feedback could help the other person improve. [11] X Trustworthy Source Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Nonprofit organization providing innovative, effective educational resources for educators designed to support student achievement Go to source- Don’t wait until a student has failed your class to give feedback. Instead, discuss ways they can improve throughout the semester.
Advertisement
How Do You Give Feedback Effectively?
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Make eye contact. It demonstrates that you are invested in the conversation.Thanks
- Be sensitive to the other person’s feelings.Thanks
- Try to give negative feedback in private.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/issues/2002/1100/p43.html
- ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/issues/2002/1100/p43.html
- ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/issues/2002/1100/p43.html
- ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/issues/2002/1100/p43.html
- ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/blog/give-direct-feedback-scott-taylor
- ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/fpm/issues/2002/1100/p43.html
- ↑ https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/practice/Pages/insight-feedback.aspx
- ↑ Lily Zheng, MA. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant. Expert Interview. 22 November 2019.
- ↑ https://online.champlain.edu/blog/giving-constructive-feedback
About This Article
Article Summary
X
A feedback sandwich is a great way to give someone constructive criticism while softening the blow with praise and acknowledgement. To give a feedback sandwich, start by complimenting the person or praising them for something good they’ve done. Then, give them clear criticism and how they can improve. Try to criticise their work or actions instead of them as a person, since this will be less likely to offend them. Finally, end with more praise or another positive comment. For example, say something like, “Great job on the presentation, but your figures on the graph were for the wrong term, so I’ll need you to fix that. Other than that, it was brilliant. Keep up the good work.” For more tips, including how to make your feedback actionable, read on!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 532,288 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "This article helped me to stop and think about my next move, thought, or action, and how it can either make situations better or worse. It helps me to encourage someone else and give compliments when they are due." ..." more
Advertisement
89%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"This article helped me to stop and think about my next move, thought, or action, and how it can either make situations better or worse. It helps me to encourage someone else and give compliments when they are due."
..."
more
"The pictures are funny and let me know I can use this with children and adults!"
"These articles were very helpful for everybody. Sharp and simple. "
"This helped me a lot, I hope you enjoy it."
"Easy way to gain more knowledge."
