BINDER #009 - Culture/Leadership - Don't Like Giving Feedback to Employees? Here's a hack.
One of my favorite sayings: Business is easy until you add people into it.
When you really dig into that statement, you'll probably come to appreciate it at a deep level. People truly are the variable that makes the most impact - good or bad - in a business.
A mediocre business system can still do well if it were 100% automated, with no chance of humans muddying the waters.
And so it goes without saying that how you deal with your employees who are underperforming or not following the system can make a massive impact in your business.
And so, as the frst release of the 2025 Business Binder Newsletter, I am going to keep it simple. Here is a great hack for how you can have those tough conversations and make them a little bit easier:
Sandwich them.
The sandwich hack of employee management is very simple:
Give them a genuine positive compliment on their recent performance*.
After a positive message, pivot hard by saying "There is some feedback that I want to give you that I think will make you even better."
After the discussion of feedback is over, pay them another compliment or leave them with a positive message - then send them on their way.
*ASTERISK WARNING: If you can't find a single genuine positive compliment on their recent performance, you probably want to skip steps 1-3 and head right to a termination.
There are entire books written about how you execute step 2. However, even if you despise the idea of giving feedback, step 1 makes it significantly more likely the employee will respond favorably.
Why does this matter?
Here is what recently wrote a post in my mentorship group:
I can't think of a single instance when someone (in this group) said, "I was too quick to fire this person."
Most of the time, it's quite the opposite. "I should have fired this person sooner" is more common.
If you manage people or own a business, you probably understand this.
The sandwich hack can be a difference maker for you. Instead of avoiding the necessary conversations, it can make it easier for you and can help your people grow and learn.