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Feedback works best as a dialogue Source:  Pixabay How does one give feedback effectively? "Put a slice of praise on the top and the bottom, and stick the meat of your criticism in between. It’s the compliment sandwich"   This is the piece of advice that I've often heard, but it is difficult to implement. The quote is from a very interesting article called " How to Give Bad Feedback Without Being a Jerk ", written by Adam Grant . I found this article to be of particular use, as I often find it difficult to deal out criticism. Here the author states that the "feedback sandwich doesn’t taste as good as it looks". The initial praise can be glanced over; seen as a mere attempt to soften the blow of the upcoming criticism. It can come across as insincere. Alternatively, if the praise is believed, it can outweigh the negatives, leaving the criticism null and void in the receivers eyes. But the author has given some genuinely helpful advice on how t...

  Criticism can be the hardest thing to give and take. Too nice, and it gives no constructive feedback to improve. Too harsh, and it can put someone off the whole idea, crushing their spirit. Just right, and it can turn a good idea into a fantastic one.   I believe that criticism should never be negative. That's not to say that we should never acknowledge faults, but the way to deliver the message should be constructive.  Make sure to address the positive aspects of the idea, and then suggest some improvements. I believe that encouragement is just as powerful as "tough love", but has much better repercussions on the persons psyche, resolve and mental health. I was pleased to find that other people agree with me. One such person is Joel Almeida  who wrote the article:  A Simple 5-Second Habit to Rewire Your Harshly Self-Critical Brain .   We tend to hold ourselves to unrealistic perfectionism. This can lead to disinterest and impatience. Or we can c...