How to Give an Honest Critique Using the Sandwich Method

It can be even scarier than being asked to give a public speech: Someone asks you for your honest evaluation. A million race through your head. Do you give them honesty? But it was horrible. Will they hate you for correcting them? Do they want encouragement or assistance?

The following steps will take the mystery out of giving a good, honest critique. You can learn to be honest and straightforward with your assistance but be able to temper it with encouragement.

Listen

Begin by listening closely. If your friend is giving a speech, sit up and pay close attention to what they are saying. If you are reading over a report or paper for them, avoid skimming it. If the topic is "hot button," or one you have a different view on, attempt to put your personal bias aside and listen to the other side.

Good listening requires two things: hearing the words and processing them. Hearing the sounds alone does not constitute listening. Many times we are guilty of hearing the noises but in our heads, we are formulating our response. Avoid that. Just listen and process the key points your friend is covering. Do not even begin to think about critiquing until they are completely finished.

But once they are finished, always use the "Sandwich Method" for critique. It is a proven technique to cushion helpful hints in good, sincere compliments.

The Sandwich Method

"Slice of Bread"- Open the Critique with a Sincere Compliment

As a communications professor, I found it very easy to start the "laundry list" of all the things that needed to be fixed in a student's speech. Opening my evaluation with what they did wrong proved to be a huge mistake. Once I started that way, the student shut down and none of my helpful hints penetrated the wall they put up to avoid the sting from my criticism.

I had to learn to open with a sincere compliment. Find something that the person did well. What did you like? What was clever or witty in the speech? Did it have a good flow? Did he or she explain the topic well? Sometimes, this can be the most difficult part of the method. We are very adept at finding faults, not so skillful at finding strengths. I have found that sometimes complimenting my student's choice of clothing for the speech is the best thing to bring up. Do not laugh! I teach that taking time with your appearance shows a respect for your audience and makes them feel that if you did that, you must have worked on your speech too. It all boils down to credibility. But I digress. Find something to compliment and be sincere.

"The Meat"- Evaluate with Kindness and Usefulness

Just because you opened with a compliment does not mean you should dive in with a list of wrongs. Keep your list to the major issues and as short as possible. With my new students, it would be so easy for me to list everything they had done wrong. But I tried to encourage them by mentioning one item to work on for future speeches. If using verbal clutter (um, like, uh, etc.) was the major issue, then I would focus on that.

I realize in a situation outside of the classroom you may not have the opportunity to see improvements with each speech so the list may be longer that you give. But do attempt to cushion each criticism with something constructive. "You have such a great topic, why don't you work on clarifying your main points so it is clearer to your audience." Or "your main points in this article are very clear but the grammar is not quite up to par. May I help you with this?" Offering your help and kindness will make your friend more willing to listen and change.

Also, be sure to keep your evaluation to something that will be useful. Going back to personal bias, even if you do not agree with the point of view, try to keep your critique relevant. I did not always agree with my students' take on a topic, particularly the social or political ones. But even when you do not agree, you can find a way to help. For example, "I don't necessarily agree with your point of view, but I think you have a clear thesis. You may want to work on clarifying your main points in order to help keep your thesis statement clear." Do not attempt to change their mind to your point of view...now is not the time for that. Unless there is something seriously wrong with their research, stay on point.

"Slice of Bread"- Finish with Accolades

Or, to put it another way, finish with compliments. The Sandwich Method is then complete. The "bread" on either side represents sincere compliments and the "meat" in between is the critique. Finishing with sincere encouragement not only ends the discussion on an upbeat note, but it also encourages your friend to continue his work. Do not use this time to work in more criticisms. Just end with a compliment. Let your friend be the one to steer the conversation back to the evaluation, should he or she need more help. I have said many times, truth wrapped in compliments takes out the sting and opens the door for sincere communication.