Write-up by Mela Toro Waters
The goal of feedback that motivates is to: provide someone with actionable, concrete information that helps them achieve higher performance through behavior change or reinforcement.
Yale young professionals got to learn and practice Situation - Behavior - Impact (SBI) feedback in a FLY workshop with Allison Holzer. The SBI Feedback tool helps you deliver clear, specific feedback. To use the tool, describe the “when” and “where” of the situation. Next, describe the other person’s behavior, only mentioning actions that you have observed. Then, communicate the impact of their specific behavior on you and others. How did you feel? State how it made you feel by using a feeling word (i.e. frustrated, pressured, angry, excited, relieved, etc.). Finally, discuss what your team member needs to do to change this behavior in the future, or, if their behavior had a positive impact, explore how they can build on this.
This article Two-Thirds of Managers are Uncomfortable Communicating with Employees further illuminates the issues with poor communication between managers and employees.