Feedback models: Feedback Sandwich

The Earl of Sandwich has something to share with SPs.
[First Earl of Sandwich via wikimedia]

Some schools have defined formats for feedback. Many offer open feedback, though: several minutes of wide open time after an encounter to give feedback however the SP sees fit. This can be an incredibly powerful tool -- and completely overwhelming to new SPs.

One easy method to follow for SPs without a lot of experience, or ones who are just starting to refine their technique, is the Feedback Sandwich. It looks like this:

Layer 1: Something the student did well. Save your really good feedback for Layer 3. This is an excellent time to comment on basic skills like active listening, empathy, rapport, pacing, etc. 

Layer 2: Something the student can improve. It is important that this layer is not the largest layer! This layer is most effective when each item contains a recommendation for how to improve. If this is the sort of event that includes multiple encounters for the student, they should be encouraged to practice improving this skill in the very next encounter. 

Layer 3: Something else the student did well. Since this will be the last thing they hear, make it count. Encourage them to keep doing whatever it is they're doing well. Students are often so overwhelmed that SPs can do good in the world just by reminding them they are, in fact, doing well. Sometimes the skills that come most naturally to students can diminish over time because nobody remembers to notice them.

Each layer of the Feedback Sandwich should include concrete examples of observed behaviour during that encounter to illustrate the SP's feedback.

The strength of this format, especially for new SPs, is that it helps focus the feedback rather than jumping around to whatever random thing the SP thinks of next. It creates a basic structure to habitualize observing concrete behavior and balancing the ratio of positive to "negative" feedback. In addition, this can be an especially useful format in scenarios with a very limited amount of time (3 minutes or less): just adjust the number of feedback items per layer to the amount of time you have.

Some people hate the Feedback Sandwich (it's definitely not my favorite). That's okay. It's still a good place to begin. As the SP becomes more comfortable with the Feedback Sandwich, the SP can begin to deviate from this to other models.

Extra credit:
I had no idea Hawaii used to be called the "Sandwich Islands!" I imagine feedback sandwiches on a tropical island would be much more conducive to constructive conversations.