A
script for face-to-face feedback in small groups
2WayTrust Feedback engages directly with the challenge of securing culture change in organisations, by creating a relatively safe framework for small groups of people who work closely together to have the sorts of difficult conversations with each other that most teams avoid.
The whole process is based entirely on face-to-face feedback within small groups of 3 to 5, and there is no role for anything to be said anonymously. Everyone receives and gives feedback in their group, thereby creating a “level playing field”.
2WayTrust Feedback is about the hard skill of being straight in what
we say to others and being able to listen to what they have to say to
us. It is grounded in performance at work, and avoids “group therapy”
because individuals are asked to keep away from the personal history
of others.
It takes part in two stages:
· In stage one everyone receives feedback from the other members of their group; they are asked to listen and absorb, and NOT justify their behaviour
· In stage two, the person who received feedback reports back on how they intend to change their behaviour, on the basis that it is their right to accept or reject the advice of other members of their group.
Whilst 2WayTrust Feedback is face-to-face, it is off the record and non-attributable. This means that tough things can be said on the basis that it is up to individuals to take away their own messages and act on them as they think best.
The power of Feedback is that peers can “say it straight” to each other, knowing that people can quickly let go of unhelpful behaviours so long as they are told, to their face, what impact they are having on others.
Where team members fail to make improvements, team leaders need to act quickly to deal with any under-performance that has become visible to them.