a <10 minute activity to reset your culture of feedback
This activity is called plus delta (+/^). Each person gets 1 min with each other person on the team. In this minute, you share one thing your partner is doing well / should continue (the “plus”) and you suggest one thing the person should change or try (the “delta”). The other person nods and takes notes. Then you switch roles, from giver to receiver of feedback. The facilitator keeps strict time, calling for the role switch at the 30-second mark and then calling for a partner switch at the 1-min mark.
It’s kind of like speed dating, but for feedback delivery. 30 seconds evaporate fast and folks want to cut their nervousness with rambling prefaces to their feedback. Model what it looks like for them - no rambling preface, no hand-wringing apology, right to the feedback.
Inevitably, everyone starts this activity feeling nervous and under-prepared. As it unfolds, there’s a huge release of energy. Usually, by the end, everyone is giddy (we survived! It wasn’t even that bad! In fact, I have a list of things I just got acknowledged for doing well!).
The giddy finish is the key moment. Your debrief in this moment sets the new norm of the culture.
You ask: “Was there anything anyone said today that they could’ve said earlier? Why didn’t you?”
Usually, they answer: “Yes, of course we could have said this earlier, we just didn’t have the time.”
You say: “Fine, but (a) this was 1 min, and (b) had you given this feedback 3 weeks ago, we’d all have 3 more weeks of higher-quality work behind us. So I’d love for time to not be a reason we don’t do this. And I’m confident you can find 1 minute to share a plus-delta with your teammates if you commit to doing so (and put it on your calendar). In fact, I expect it.”
-ben
