Are you still using the "Good, Bad, Good" method to deliver criticism?

It turns out, the "Feedback Sandwich" is giving your team feedback-indigestion. Research suggests that when you use this outdated tactic, high performers walk away thinking they failed, while low performers walk away thinking they’re doing great.

In this episode, we dismantle the sandwich and replace it with "Build-Break-Build"—a framework that protects the relationship while being clear about performance status. We also dive into the difference between a "bad feeling" (like exercise) and a "bad thing" (like standing in a hill of fire ants), and why leaders need to know the difference.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Sandwich Paradox: Why wrapping criticism in compliments confuses your best people and comforts your worst ones.

• The 4 Stepping Stones: Key pillars of a critical feedback conversation (Situation & Expectation > Observation & Impact > Their Perspective > Plan & Accountability).

• Utilization vs. Value: The "Surfboard Story"—why offering a perk (or asking a question in a meeting) creates value even if no one uses it.

• Reverse Hierarchy: Why the intern should speak first during a debrief.

• The 5 Whys: How to turn yourself into a "curious toddler" to find the root cause of a team failure.