From Donna’s Desk: The Compliment Bakery 

This morning my inbox informed me that the classic “compliment sandwich” has been elevated to a full Compliment Bakery. Corporate suggests that feedback should be served with eleven compliments for optimal swallowability.

Eleven.

Here’s what today reminded me:

Compliments are seasoning, not the meal.

A sprinkle of recognition helps people hear the hard thing. But when the garnish becomes the entree, everyone is chewing parsley and nobody knows what the actual feedback was.

Feedback works when it’s specific, useful, and kind.

Specific doesn’t mean sharp; it means clear. Useful means the person knows what to do next. Kind means we deliver truth with respect, not volume.

For anyone else navigating a pastry case of praise, here’s the version that works in my department:

The Three B’s of Feedback

1. Be Clear: “Drew, your exhibit was terrific. For next time, we need shorter breaks during the install so the team isn’t waiting.”
   
   

2. Be About the Work: Not their personality, not their destiny, just the task.
   
   

3. Be Brief: One or two genuine compliments are plenty. Save room for action steps.
   
   

And because the Bakery memo seemed excited about numbers, here are Eleven Compliments That Aren’t Weird (feel free to borrow two):

1. “You solved that faster than my coffee brewed.”
   
   

2. “Your notes saved the meeting.”
   
   

3. “You made the chaotic part look easy.”
   
   

4. “You caught a risk I missed.”
   
   

5. “That doc was clear and mercifully short.”
   
   

6. “You asked the question everyone else was thinking.”
   
   

7. “You improved the process, not just the outcome.”
   
   

8. “You helped someone shine.”
   
   

9. “You kept us on time.”
   
   

10. “You did the work and let the work speak.”
    
    

11. “You made the team better today.”
    
    

Use what fits. Skip what doesn’t. And if you ever find yourself complimenting someone’s desk, take it as a gentle signal that you’ve crossed from “encouraging” into “performing.”

If the Office of Alignment asks, please tell them we’re cutting back on the carbs.

Back to work,
-Donna

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