THE SANDWICH METHOD, DOES IT WORK ?
Hwee Peng Tan
Founder@Neuro-Affirmative Network| 2X Award-Winning Author | School Board Chair | Global Women of Influence 2024
THE SANDWICH METHOD, DOES IT WORK ?
What is the sandwich method? (extract from Betterup.com)
Three steps of a feedback sandwich
Step one: Praise. The conversation starts with positive feedback.
Step two: Negative feedback. This is where the “sandwich” comes into play.
Step three: Praise. Lastly, the conversation ends with another section devoted to positive feedback
So what do you think ? Does it work or it confuse even more?
THE DIFFCULT PART
I don't use the Sandwich method lot but when I do, it is not the typical way. When I identified an issue that's affecting the team, after observing multiple times and deem it will be recurring, this is how I do.
领英推荐
Let's say a team member is constantly exhibiting aggressive behaviour and was raised by other team members.
My Step one will be say something nice about the aggressor that is totally not related to their behaviour. Maybe like, " I appreciate that you get the meeting to start and end on time."
Then, the next time when the aggressor was showing their behaviour, I will immediately proceed with Step Two, call out their behaviour with no sugar coating. For example, "hey, don't talk to Amy like that, that's very mean."
I will wait for a day or 2 and proceed with Step Three. Again, say something positive about the aggressor, maybe like "I really appreciate you helping Sam with his presentation."
My idea of sandwich method is not to do all the 3-Steps on the same day or same email. Spilt up the sandwich method gives an impression that I recognised both good and bad behaviour, importantly, over a span of time.
QUICK TIP OF THE DAY
Don't be too quick to use the sandwich method. Occasionally, a good check-in and words of affirmation with the person during Step 1 will do the work. That's why I mentioned earlier on that I don't use sandwich method a lot.
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