Shattering the Mold: How to Ditch the Stale Compliment Sandwich and Transform Feedback in Your Team

The Compliment Sandwich is stale.

Maybe thats too kind. Its limp and moldy in the back of the deli case.

Teams want better. But a lot of managers still rely on this outdated and tone-deaf practice.

Here’s the problem with feedback like this.

👉 It’s manipulative - It lacks authenticity and sincerity. Your team knows and itll erode their trust.

👉 Its confusing - Youre diluting the message. And some people will only hear the good.

👉 Delayed action - This is a technique for softening critical feedback thats too late. Give prompt feedback and you wont need to dance around it.

👉 Lacks credibility - Your team knows they are eating a stale sandwich. They wont believe the niceties.

Here’s a modern take on delivering feedback.

✔️ Have regular check-ins. Meet with your team consistently and use that time to provide timely feedback and direction. Theyre expecting feedback and you wont need to sugarcoat it.

✔️ Be direct and clear. The more you do this, the more your team will expect it from you and appreciate it.

✔️ Frame it as an opportunity to learn. Be supportive, not punitive.

✔️ Make it actionable. When you talk about the next steps, you dont dwell on the problem.

✔️ Celebrate wins. Instead of waiting to shout out your team when you have to sandwich it, shout them out immediately. Theyll know you appreciate them when its time to give tough feedback.

✔️ Foster a feedback culture. Create an environment where feedback flows freely in all directions, not just top-down. Encourage team members to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns openly.

The next time you find yourself delivering a stale sandwich, it means youre already too late on feedback.

But good news! Its an opportunity for you to learn and grow. 😉

Now drop the stalest sandwich you can come up with in the comments! 🥪🤮

#leadership #modernleadership