🚪 Delaying Tough Conversations? You’re Not Alone.

Ever caught yourself dodging a difficult conversation, thinking “I’ll do it later”? Whether it’s at work or in personal relationships, tough conversations are like those unread emails—avoided, postponed, and dreaded. We fear hurting feelings, saying the wrong thing, or damaging the relationship. I get it. I’ve been there too, making excuse after excuse. But then, I found a game-changing tool: the SBI formula. 🛠️

This formula is my secret sauce for stepping into hard discussions with clarity and confidence. Whether you’re a manager handling performance issues or addressing personal matters, the SBI formula provides a path to deliver feedback that’s constructive, impactful, and caring. ❤️

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The Power of SBI: A Formula for Effective Feedback

SBI stands for:

1️⃣ Situation – What’s the specific context?
2️⃣ Behavior – What did the person do?
3️⃣ Impact – What were the consequences of the behavior?

This method shifts the conversation from emotional judgments to observable facts, paving the way for productive dialogue.

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Example: Addressing a Late Employee

Let’s say you have an employee who’s consistently late to your weekly meetings. Here’s how SBI works in this case:

Situation: The weekly meeting.
Behavior: Arriving late multiple times.
Impact: It’s hurting their professional image and trust among peers, affecting their promotion chances.

This formula focuses on facts over emotions. Notice how I didn’t say, “You’re lazy and don’t care about your job.” Judgments like that can trigger defensiveness because the person might argue they had valid reasons, like car trouble. With SBI, you stick to the facts. No debate, no confusion.

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Why Judgments Backfire in Feedback

It’s easy to fall into the trap of judgment: “You’re lazy” or “You don’t care about deadlines.” But here’s the catch—judgments are subjective. The person can deny them, and suddenly, you’re in an argument. 🥴

Instead, when you say, “You arrived late to the last three meetings”—there’s no room for debate. This non-judgmental approach makes feedback easier to hear and accept, creating space for genuine improvement. 🌱

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Delivering Feedback from a Place of Care

Even with the best feedback framework, if the other person doesn’t feel that you care about them as a whole human being, the message might not land. Your goal isn’t just to criticize behavior; it’s to foster growth. So, show that you have their back. 🫶

The conversation could sound like:
“Paul, I know you’re aiming for that promotion, and I want to see you succeed. But arriving late to meetings could hurt your chances. Let’s find a way to fix this because I believe in you.”

When feedback is rooted in compassion, it builds trust and strengthens relationships, both professionally and personally.

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Conclusion: The SBI Formula in Action

Next time you need to deliver hard news, ditch the judgments and embrace SBI. Whether it’s with your team, a friend, or a family member, this formula ensures your words are clear, factual, and meaningful. And don’t forget—always deliver feedback from a place of care. 💙

Try it out, and watch how your conversations transform from anxiety-inducing to opportunity-creating. 🚀

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Ready to Have Better Conversations?

What’s one tough conversation you’ve been putting off? Drop a comment and share how the SBI formula could help you tackle it today. ✨