S5 Ep1: Why The Feedback Sandwich Fails At Work

The feedback sandwich sounds polite. It can also make it nearly impossible to tell what the actual feedback was.We pile on praise, reassurance, explanations, and “this really isn’t a big deal” until the thing the person actually needs to hear gets buried somewhere in the middle. Then we leave the conversation thinking we gave clear feedback and wonder why nothing changes.But feedback at work is rarely just about the words. It’s about power, timing, trust, defensiveness, interpretation — and sometimes our own need to make an uncomfortable conversation feel more comfortable.This week, we’re talking about why clarity matters more than cushioning, why waiting 30 minutes to say the hard thing can make the conversation worse, and what someone actually needs to know when you’re asking them to change. Because clarity isn’t cruelty, and confusion isn’t kindness.