r/technology • u/Choobeen • 2d ago

Society Research shows the 'compliment sandwich' is no longer effective - University of Western Ontario

https://phys.org/news/2025-08-compliment-sandwich-longer-effective.html
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u/Berova 2d ago

How about treating people like adults and maybe with some openness and honesty as well as a measure of consideration and respect for a change? Just come from a constructive place. Empty platitudes ring pretty hollow.

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u/GregTheMad 2d ago

Being treated as an adult requires that you can handle feedback like an adult, which a lot of people over 18 can not.

If I had an euro for every time a person I've met immediately took negative feedback personally I could eat out way more.

14

u/TheLifelessOne 2d ago

I feel like if you're too delicate to take feedback, you shouldn't be working.

Like, I understand that we need to work to live and that every adult in your life has failed to prepare you, but at some point you need to understand that you're an adult and you'll be treated like an adult.

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u/EconomicRegret 2d ago

This!

Also, it doesn't necessarily mean you're an "adult" just because you've been alive for over 2 decades, nor that you and/or your caregivers failed. Many things (but not all) that can negatively affect your brain and personality are out of your control (e.g. psychological trauma, head injury, genes, and other health issues; badly managed company; etc.)

That's why people should talk with care to each other and adapt their criticism within reason to the person they're interacting with. If it doesn't work, better fire the employee than unleash your frustration and harsh criticism on them.