Situation-Behavior-Impact

The Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) framework, developed by the Center for Creative Leadership, is a simple tool for delivering clear and effective feedback. It helps you describe what you observed without making judgments or assumptions.

Structure your feedback in three parts:

1. Situation — Describe the specific situation where you observed the behavior. Be precise about when and where it happened.
2. Behavior — Describe the specific, observable behavior. Stick to facts — what you saw or heard — not your interpretation.
3. Impact — Describe the impact the behavior had on you, the team, or the outcome. Use "I" statements to own the impact.

• Deliver feedback as close to the event as possible
• Focus on behavior, not personality
• Be specific, not general
• For positive feedback, follow the same structure

"In yesterday's client meeting (Situation), you interrupted the client three times while they were explaining their requirements (Behavior). This made the client visibly frustrated and I'm worried they feel we're not listening to their needs (Impact)."

"During today's sprint planning (Situation), you broke down the complex user story into clear, actionable tasks with acceptance criteria (Behavior). This helped the whole team understand exactly what we need to deliver and boosted everyone's confidence (Impact)."

The SBI framework helps you give feedback that is specific, objective, and actionable. By separating observations from interpretations, you create space for constructive dialogue.