I, excuse the language, called my technique "a shit sandwich" for getting comfortable giving negative feedback. I'd establish with both the employee and myself

I, excuse the language, called my technique "a shit sandwich" for getting comfortable giving negative feedback. I'd establish with both the employee and myself a pattern of giving both negative and positive feedback at the same time, instead of only negative. I'd give something good, something bad, and then something good hence the sandwich. I've found that if you are all negative it's too easy to lose an employee and there motivation. By using the sandwich you so that you notice the good and the bad and that you are pulling for them to fix the bad.