Scientific Justification of the Critique Sandwich

Anyone in a management or mentor role has probably heard the concept of sandwiching criticism between positivity.

So instead of saying,

You should instead say,

It’s a powerful tool for behavior change, and this research > seems to have isolated why.

In brief, thinking about one’s potential and possibilities makes people receptive to ideas and change, while negativity about oneself makes them defensive and closed. We knew this intuitively, but now we can see this at the level of the brain.

Fascinating.

So when you’re criticizing someone, be sure to keep the mind open with appreciation, praise, or some other form of positivity. Failing to do so may mean you’ll be speaking to a closed door.