Which non-confrontational technique is recommended for giving negative feedback?

• A. Sandwich method or SBI model combined with neutral language.
• B. Public shaming to push improvement.
• C. Yelling and sarcasm to emphasize issues.
• D. Ignoring the issue entirely.

Answer: (A)

Non-confrontational feedback works best when you keep the message balanced, specific, and neutral. The sandwich method blends a sincere positive opening, a clear area for improvement, and a forward-looking closing, which softens the impact and keeps the recipient open to change. The SBI model clarifies exactly what happened: the Situation, the Behavior you observed, and the Impact on the work or team. Using neutral language helps focus attention on actions and outcomes rather than on personal traits, reducing defensiveness and increasing the likelihood of follow-through.

This approach is preferable to methods that rely on shame, anger, or avoidance. Public shaming damages trust and motivation; yelling or sarcasm escalates defensiveness; ignoring the issue lets problems persist. A concrete example would be: In the last report, on the data in the sales section, I observed two arithmetic errors that affected the forecast; please double-check the calculations and confirm the sources before submission.