Business English from All Ears English BE 494: Feedback That Tastes Better Than a Compliment Sandwich
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Nov 23, 2025 Exploring how people react to feedback, the hosts reveal that the way it's delivered greatly impacts openness. They delve into the often ineffective feedback sandwich technique, highlighting its potential to come off as insincere. A five-step feedback model is introduced, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and connecting feedback to specific goals. Role-play scenarios illustrate the power of constructive conversations. Ultimately, they stress that feedback should be an ongoing, collaborative process rather than a one-time event.
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Compliment Sandwich Backfires
- The classic compliment sandwich trains listeners to expect criticism after praise and reduces sincerity.
- Muhammad observed people forget positives once they hear "but" or "however."
Negativity Bias Undermines Praise
- The brain prioritizes negative information, making criticism more salient than praise.
- Using 'but' or 'however' after praise triggers the brain's threat focus and erases positives.
Label Meeting Sections Explicitly
- Use meeting structure labels like 'what's going well' and 'areas to improve' to compartmentalize feedback.
- Clear structure helps listeners process positives separate from areas for growth.