Putting It All Together

Review the situation, behavior, and impact steps that build effective feedback, and practice them at every opportunity. You don't have to wait for a feedback situation to arise to review your skills. For example, the next time you attend a trade show and hear a compelling presentation, think about what you are experiencing that makes the presentation so valuable. Observe the speaker and take note of the situation, the speaker's behavior, and the impact that behavior is having on you. Is the speaker using hand gestures? What about tone of voice? What kinds of facial expressions is the speaker making? Are the speaker's words appropriate for the audience and the subject?

Take time to reflect on your feedback efforts. Ask yourself, Why did I pay attention to this particular behavior? What does this say about me? Perhaps you have observed behaviors that you want to develop in yourself or that you want to drop or guard against. Reflection also gives you time to understand the true nature of the impact the behavior had on you. Ask yourself, How did I feel when she talked to me in that tone of voice? What emotional response did I have when he shook my hand and said my reports showed good research and attention to detail? Reflection will help you become more concise and focused in delivering your feedback message and help you avoid traps that weaken your message.

As you become more familiar with the SBI approach and more comfortable with the delivery, your feedback skills will become increasingly effective. The people you work with—your boss, colleagues, and subordinates—will benefit from the effort you put toward helping them develop. You in turn will benefit from developing a useful skill that not only helps to raise the productivity of all the people around you but also bolsters your personal leadership skills.