• Published November 24, 2022
  • 6 Minute Read

Improve Talent Development With Our SBI Feedback Model

Published November 24, 2022
Immediately Improve Your Talent Development with the SBI Feedback Model - CCL

How Feedback Conversations Can Strengthen Organizations

What can you do to improve talent development?

Teach your leaders how to give feedback regularly and well (we recommend using our SBI™ feedback model), and help them to hold effective feedback conversations with employees.

This is the fastest way to improve talent development because individual leaders are in the best position to influence and develop talent — or shut it down. Managers can give employees good reasons to be engaged, work effectively, and build their skills.

Most importantly, a talent conversation isn’t done to someone, but with someone. It’s about building a relationship that allows managers to influence employees toward improved performance, development, and positive outcomes.

It’s one of the simplest yet most effective ways to develop others. And, if the employee has been given honest, ongoing feedback, these conversations don’t come as surprises.

Some of the most valuable types of feedback are given in the moment and on routine, day-to-day behaviors. When feedback is given consistently and well, managers establish and strengthen trust. The more trust and rapport managers can build, the more readily subordinates will accept and act on future feedback, creating a pattern of learning and growth.

Hold More Constructive Feedback Conversations With Our SBI Feedback Model

First and foremost, make sure your managers know that giving feedback on a regular basis is more effective than saving it all for the performance review. Ongoing feedback conversations can:

  • Motivate employees to continue a behavior that increases their effectiveness
  • Encourage them to stop a behavior that reduces their impact
  • Encourage employees to adopt or modify a behavior that will make them more effective
  • Foster greater commitment to their work and the organization

Secondly, we recommend sharing any feedback using our SBI feedback model. It’s a simple ways for leaders to structure feedback conversations to capture and clarify the Situation, describe the specific Behaviors, and explain the Impact that the person’s behavior had.

Our SBI feedback model can be used to give both positive and negative feedback. It’s a process that may feel awkward or formal at first, but once managers get some practice, they tell us that they find it’s incredibly helpful.

The SBI Feedback Model in 3 Simple Steps

Infographic: Use Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) to Explore Intent vs. Impact

1. Describe the Situation.

Describe the specific situation in which the behavior occurred. Include the time and place to reduce any confusion.

2. Describe the Behavior.

Describe the actual, observable behavior being discussed. Keep to facts only and avoid inserting any opinions or judgments.

3. Describe the Impact.

Describe the results of the behavior in terms of the impact it had, whether the effect was positive or negative.

Take the Feedback Even Further by Asking About Intentions

Our SBI feedback model can be even more helpful when accompanied with an inquiry about intent. This turns the one-way act of giving feedback into a two-way dialogue, a feedback conversation, where both parties can have a clarifying discussion around intentions versus impact. Learn more about using SBI to explore intent vs. impact.

Feedback Conversations Can Be Talent Conversations

Feedback conversations can be thought of as talent conversations. They’re an opportunity for managers to influence their direct reports towards improved performance, development, and positive outcomes.

Feedback conversations can happen at any time, and are part of what it takes to coach your people on an ongoing basis. But one of the most critical moments for holding effective talent conversations is during your organization’s regular performance review process.

Here are some guidelines to consider for those times.

First, Understand the 4 Types of Talent Conversations

Managers need to be prepared to hold 4 types of talent conversations, based on how an employee is doing. The first step is to clarify whether the employee is considered top talent, a solid performer, a potential performer, or an underperformer. The feedback conversation will have a different focus, depending on how the employee is viewed. From there, you will know where to focus the feedback conversation.

Infographic: 4 Types of Talent Conversations - Center for Creative Leadership

The Top Talent Conversation

Focus on future investment. Individuals who clearly meet or exceed expectations and deliver superior results are top talent. These are the individuals who are seen as the future leaders in the organization. Be sure you’re being thoughtful about engaging this high-potential talent.

The Solid Performer Conversation

Focus on maintaining or building value. Solid performers are typically individual contributors who are valued by the organization but could take on more responsibility.

The Potential Performer Conversation

Focus on short-term success for now. Potential performers are individuals who may not have had enough time in their role to show significant results but are expected to bring a lot to the role they’re in.

The Underperformer Conversation

Focus on improving performance. Underperformers are not meeting expectations. The feedback conversation should remain focused on the here and now rather than future options, new tasks, or additional responsibilities. Learn more about managing a difficult employee.

Talent Conversations: What They Are, Why They're Crucial, and How to Do Them Right
Discover how to use talent conversations to build relationships based on rapport, collaboration, and mutual commitment and help your team improve performance, focus development, and reach positive outcomes.

How to Structure a Feedback Conversation With Your Talent

Whatever other formal talent management or leadership development systems are in place, feedback conversations are where development becomes real. It’s the best time for managers to build their direct report’s commitment to the organization and engagement in the work.

So the feedback conversation itself should have a structure, too. Things will go more smoothly if you follow these 6 steps:

  1. Clarify the goal. What’s the purpose of the feedback conversation? What exactly does each person want to accomplish?
  2. Explore the issues. Assess strengths, vulnerabilities, development needs, and performance. Identify motivation and career aspirations.
  3. Identify the options. Generate ideas and opportunities for learning and improvement.
  4. Set expectations. What do we want to do first? Next? What are the obstacles?
  5. Motivate. What support is needed? Are you sure the goals are meaningful? How can I help and what else is needed?
  6. Identify the plan. How will we know you are on target? How will we track outcomes?

Learn even more about our recommendations for holding feedback conversations with your direct reports in our guidebook, Talent Conversations: What They Are, Why They’re Crucial, and How to Do Them Right.

Demands placed on managers to meet performance goals can be relentless, and priorities and challenges shift frequently. That’s why the key to improving your talent development processes is ensuring that your managers can hold meaningful feedback conversations with talent (and again, our SBI feedback model is a great tool for that).

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Upskill your team’s capacity for holding effective feedback conversations. We can create a customized learning journey for your leaders using our research-based modules. Available leadership topics include Conflict Resolution, Emotional Intelligence, Feedback That Works, Listening to Understand, Psychological Safety, and Talent Conversations.

  • Published November 24, 2022
  • 6 Minute Read
  • Download as PDF

Based on Research by

Michael Campbell
Michael Campbell, MA
Former Faculty & Portfolio Manager

During his time at CCL, Michael engaged in both facilitation and research focused on talent management, succession management, high potential leaders, and senior executive leadership. He designed and trained workshops on coaching effectiveness, executive selection, and vision, and he co-designed experiential modules, tools, and activities for programs. Michael also co-authored our Talent Conversations guidebook.

During his time at CCL, Michael engaged in both facilitation and research focused on talent management, succession management, high potential leaders, and senior executive leadership. He designed and trained workshops on coaching effectiveness, executive selection, and vision, and he co-designed experiential modules, tools, and activities for programs. Michael also co-authored our Talent Conversations guidebook.

Bill Gentry
Bill Gentry, PhD
Former Director, Leadership Insights & Analytics and Senior Research Scientist

Bill’s research at CCL focused on examining what leaders, particularly first-time managers, can do to be successful in their work and life, and to avoid derailment. He’s the author of Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For: A Guide for New Leaders and co-author of the guidebook Developing Political Savvy.

Bill’s research at CCL focused on examining what leaders, particularly first-time managers, can do to be successful in their work and life, and to avoid derailment. He’s the author of Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For: A Guide for New Leaders and co-author of the guidebook Developing Political Savvy.

Stephen Young
Stephen Young, PhD
Former Manager, Global Leadership Analytics

Steve led our experimentation with new analytic approaches and methodologies, including CCL Fusion, a predictive analytics tool that links people data with business data to inform leadership development investment. He also led research and product development in the areas of user-driven feedback tools, virtual coaching tools, and big data and analytics.

Steve led our experimentation with new analytic approaches and methodologies, including CCL Fusion, a predictive analytics tool that links people data with business data to inform leadership development investment. He also led research and product development in the areas of user-driven feedback tools, virtual coaching tools, and big data and analytics.

John Fleenor
John Fleenor, PhD
Senior Research Scientist

John conducts research and development activities on new and innovative CCL products, including digital leadership tools and AI-driven leadership assessments. His focus is on the future of leadership assessment, and his research interests include strategic 360 feedback, rapid-response personality measures, and digital leadership assessments. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and has taught courses in organizational psychology at North Carolina State University.

John conducts research and development activities on new and innovative CCL products, including digital leadership tools and AI-driven leadership assessments. His focus is on the future of leadership assessment, and his research interests include strategic 360 feedback, rapid-response personality measures, and digital leadership assessments. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and has taught courses in organizational psychology at North Carolina State University.

What to Explore Next

Webinar
How Leaders & Leadership Collectives Can Increase Psychological Safety

Watch this webinar and learn how to assess levels of psychological safety and create more of it to foster greater trust, creativity, collaboration, and innovation across your organization.

Article
Use Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI)™ to Understand Intent

Want to give more effective feedback? Learn how to use our SBI feedback model to close the gap between a person's intentions and the impact of their behavior.

Article
How to Give Feedback Most Effectively

Learn how to give feedback effectively to boost success in your organization. Know the 4 types of feedback and avoid common mistakes.

Article
Ask the Expert: Challenging Conversations

Challenging conversations may seem daunting, but they provide us with an opportunity to explore, understand, and ultimately bridge the gap between differing perspectives.

Article
Are Leaders Born or Made?

How we think about leadership affects how we perceive the leaders around us. We share our view on the importance of the question, are leaders born or made?

Related Solutions

CCL Regional Headquarters

AMERICAS

+1 336 545 2810
ccl.org

EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA

+32 (0) 2 679 09 10
ccl.org/emea

ASIA-PACIFIC, INDIA, CHINA

+65 6854 6000
ccl.org/apac

About CCL

At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we've pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.

At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we've pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.

Meet our people where you are: ccl.org/locations.