Monday, August 3, 2015
Have you been served a feedback sandwich lately?
8:45 AM | 
Posted by
Kaplan Center for Health and Wellness
By Paz Etcheverry, Ph.D.
You may have heard of the term “feedback sandwich”. If
you have not, you may be wondering if this type of sandwich comes with a dill
potato salad and a large drink; at least I did.
Unfortunately, it does not.
The feedback sandwich is a type of feedback that is
practiced by doctors and managers who have a hard time providing negative (but
useful) feedback to their patients or employees. The basic recipe for a
feedback sandwich consists of one specific criticism “sandwiched” between two
specific praises. In this case, the praise could refer to a positive comment
(e.g., something that was done well); the
middle (or meat) of the sandwich could refer to an area that needs improvement;
and the bottom slice of bread would be another positive comment, to end the
session or meeting on an upbeat note.
However, some opponents of the feedback sandwich argue
that it is absurd and that it unveils and exposes doctors and managers who are
fearful and meek as opposed to assertive and self-confident. Instead, a more
direct and transparent feedback strategy should be provided. This more
transparent strategy consists of
· Telling the patient or employee about
one area that needs improvement.
· Addressing how the patient or
employee could possibly improve in that particular area, i.e., provide
realistic examples.
· Linking their failings to their real
impact on their health or on the business.
Have you
been served a feedback sandwich lately?
Reference
Schawrz, R. (2013). The “sandwich
feedback” undermines your feedback. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2013/04/the-sandwich-approach-undermin/
Healthfield, S.M. (n.d.). Ban
the feedback sandwich for employee feedback. Retrieved from: http://humanresources.about.com/od/interpersonalcommunicatio1/qt/ban-the-feedback-sandwich.htm
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