SBI Feedback Model

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Have you ever experienced the anxiety-inducing feeling of butterflies in your stomach before a “moment of truth” conversation with a team member? This feeling is as common as an eight-year-old child dribbling and shooting a basketball with their non-dominant hand. In professional and personal settings, the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) feedback model is widely used as a framework for giving feedback. This model is based on the principle that effective feedback should include a specific description of the situation, feedback on the person’s behavior in that situation, and an explanation of the impact of that behavior.

Reflecting on my experience terminating a team member, I recall intense fear, shaking, sweating, and anxiety. And it gives me the ability to give you a few tips to help you navigate a “moment of truth” conversation.

The SBI model involves the following steps:

First, describe the situation, which provides a clear and specific context for the feedback. Second, provide feedback on the person’s behavior in the situation. This feedback should be specific and focused on observable behaviors. Finally, explain the impact of the person’s behavior on the situation or other people involved. This feedback should be objective and focus on the consequences of the behavior.

Once you complete the first conversation round, go through the model again. This time, replace the bad behavior in step two with the expected behavior and the bad consequence in step three with the new expected consequence.

Following the SBI model, feedback can be delivered in a constructive and non-threatening way.

By focusing on observable behaviors and their impact, the feedback can be specific, actionable, and focused on improving performance or relationships.