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Prepare for a Readback

Contents

Here are some tips for when it comes to practicing and preparing for a readback. We’re following the 4 P’s of providing a readback: Practice, Purpose, Prepare and Present. You can use the PI Software or the Toolkit to prepare. To view our readback video series, click here.

Practice

Providing great, conversational readbacks is a skill that is best developed with practice. No one is perfect their first time! Not only are you still learning to read and interpret Behavioral Assessment results, but it can take time to understand how the results might manifest themselves in a person’s behaviors.

We suggest doing practice readbacks on close coworkers, family or friends—whatever it takes to help build your readback confidence. Set a goal for yourself, such as giving 10 readbacks in 30 days. The more you do it, the easier and more natural it becomes!

Purpose

Knowing the purpose could change how you approach the conversation. What are you trying to accomplish with the readback conversation?

  • A quick, high-level feedback session to provide a general sense of what the Behavioral Assessment measures and what it reveals about the person, without diving into the individual Factors and Factor Combinations.
  • An in-depth conversation that reviews the Factors and Factor Combinations and how the results relate to on the job performance and relationships.
  • A coaching conversation to help create self-awareness and opportunities for development.
  • Or something else?

Prepare

After a person has completed the PI Behavioral Assessment, review their results and look for the items listed below. You can use the software and Toolkit to help and the prep form on the following pages to document results.

  • Anticipate questions that might come up so you feel prepared with answers
  • Review Behavioral Pattern results:

Movement of Factors between the Self and Self-Concept and what the changes might mean

Factor E to determine if individual is subjective or objective

  • You may want to find out what you can about the person’s job. The more you know about their job, the more you can make connections regarding their natural and adapted behaviors.

Present

  • Reassure the individual that there are no right or wrong answers or bad patterns. Every pattern is beautiful!
  • Avoid using PI terms that they might not understand.
  • Describe positive behaviors early in the conversation.
  • Use neutral language. Describe the person, not the pattern.
  • Use real-life examples (if you have them) to help create a full picture.
  • Pause and allow time for them to process the readback. Take breaks and ask, “Does this make sense?”, “Does that resonate with you?”
  • Ask them if they have any questions
  • If they ask you something you don’t know, be honest and tell them you’ll find out the answer and get back to them.
  • Let them know if there are next steps or how their results would

Sample ways to begin the conversation

“The PI Behavioral Assessment measures your behavioral drives and tendencies.There are three patterns in the PI: the Self (one’s natural behavioral style), Self-Concept (how an individual perceives the need to   adapt to an environment) and Synthesis (how an individual is actually seen in terms of observable behavior).”

“The PI Behavioral Assessment helps us understand a person’s needs  and behaviors. It provides three snapshots of an individual: who they naturally are, how they are trying to adapt to their current environment, and what we could observe in their behavior.”

“The PI Behavioral Assessment takes into account the amount of an individual’s drive to exert their control or influence, and to interact with other people, their need for change and variety, and their need for rules and structure.”

Readback Preparation Form

Once you’ve practiced and set the purpose you can prepare to present with this Readback Preparation Form.

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