Feedback helps leaders and team members know what they are doing well and identify areas where they can improve. Constructive feedback should be given to encourage great performance. It also should be used when leaders see something ineffective, so those behaviors can be changed to help the team grow and be more successful.

Timely

Give feedback as close to the event as possible, remembering to be sensitive to what else is going on. 

• Praise the team in public; correct the individual in private. Give at least five "keep it ups" for every one "please change."
• Check for understanding. Asking for a response allows you to get more information in case you didn't get the whole picture.
• Make sure you give feedback for positive things, as well as things you want to see changed.
• Debrief afterward so team members can evaluate the process and their own behaviors.

Use the SBI method

Organize your thoughts ahead of the conversation. Be prepared to talk about the: 

• Situation. Describe the time, place, circumstance. Tell the whole story. Put things in context.
• Behavior. Focus on specific actions, without passing judgment or attributing motivation. Say, for example, "I saw that you slammed the door, threw forms on the desk and spoke very loudly to the medical assistant." Don't say, "You acted unprofessionally when you were mad."
• Impact. Describe how you saw this affect others. Don't beat around the bush.