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Worksheet on giving feedback
Giving feedback can be tricky, but making it about the situation, behaviour and effect can sometimes help. Print out these tips and put them on your wall.
Giving feedback? Focus on situation and behaviour
Giving feedback can be tricky. Here’s a method that focuses on the situation, the behaviour and the effect of that behaviour, rather than on the person.
Talking about the situation and behaviour makes feedback clear and less personal. It also makes it easier for the person to see what they need to change or do more of. But the focus on impact means this approach may not be suitable for complex or systematic challenges.
The approach
Be specific. That keeps feedback objective and helps the other person understand what they need to change. Address all these three points.
Situation — What was the context?
Behaviour — What did the person do? Describe only what you yourself noticed, and don’t make assumptions.
Impact — How did their behaviour affect you? Say “I” or “we”.
Then encourage the person to think about the situation, their behaviour and its impact. Give them time to absorb what you’ve said, then discuss specific actions they’ll need to take next.
The method works with both positive and negative feedback, as the examples below show.
An example of positive feedback
Andrew runs a car workshop in a rural town. He’s very impressed with the prompt and friendly delivery of spare parts from a new supplier he’s just started working with. To encourage more of the same service in future, he gives some specific feedback.
Situation — When you arrived yesterday with my spare parts…
Behaviour — You turned up on time despite the awful weather. And you were smiling and cheerful.
Impact — That really cheered me up and made me feel less stressed on a very busy morning.
An example of negative feedback
Pare is a designer who works from home. She must meet an important deadline in a few hours. But her new neighbour Tom is playing loud metal music at full blast, making it impossible for her to concentrate. She needs to talk to him.
Situation — I’m working on an important project this afternoon.
Behaviour — You’re playing your music very loudly.
Impact — It’s making it hard for me to think, and I need to finish an important project by 5pm.
Back to e-learning series
Return to the “Performing under pressure” e-learning series for more on how to stay calm, think more clearly and have more energy.
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