The sandwich approach to feedback is well-intended, but often causes exactly the result it is meant to avoid--defensiveness.​  It begins and ends with a compliments that is meant to disguise the main purpose of the feedback and control the recipient's response.  The recipient is aware of the disguise, but cannot confront it because doing so violates social norms.  The feedback is evaluative and general, often due to lack of first-hand information, which prevents the recipient from understanding the source of the feedback or knowing exactly what is needed to address a performance gap.