The Plus-Delta Feedback Method
Technical teams depend on effective facilitation to make decisions and solve problems, but many sessions end without clear reflection or improvement. The Plus–Delta Feedback Method (Plus-Delta) provides a balanced approach to understanding what should be repeated and what should be adjusted. This article outlines how the technique enhances alignment and strengthens decision quality.
From the Real World
We had just completed our third session with the executive team related to a pre-session survey for the board of directors. Normally this is an “icebreaker” survey that’s based on many similar ones I have done with other boards before. But not with this team – every word was examined and it felt like every question was re-constructed. As the lead facilitator, I was more than a little tired and a little frustrated.
“JD, one more thing. What type of post-session evaluation survey are we going to use?” asked the General Manager.
I thought ‘oh shit’ but kept my composure, and stated, “I have this cool exercise thing I do at the end that everybody loves. Let’s roll with that.”
He looked skeptical but agreed.
A few weeks later, the workshop was a success. We knew that because Plus-Delta (and the participants) told us that. Better yet, the method was interactive, meaning both the General Manager and Chairman of the Board could hear what everyone thought.
“That was a great debrief exercise,” the general manager told me as he slapped me on the back. “I think I am going to use a version of that in everything I do.”
What Is Plus–Delta?
Plus–Delta is a simple, two‑column reflection tool used to capture what worked well (“Plus”) and what should change (“Delta”).
It functions as a structured prompt for constructive feedback, emphasizing improvement without blame. The “Plus” column reinforces strengths and successful behaviors, while the “Delta” column highlights opportunities for adjustment (the symbol denotes change).
Continuous Improvement and Origins of Plus–Delta
The roots of Plus–Delta trace back to the continuous improvement community, where teams routinely used simple “what worked/what to improve” reflections during Kaizen events, quality circles, and PDCA cycles.
Although the exact phrase “Plus–Delta” was not yet standardized, the underlying pattern of reinforcing positives while identifying targeted changes was embedded in TQM and Lean practices throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Facilitators in manufacturing, utilities, and service industries adopted the symbol as a natural shorthand for “change,” gradually shaping the two‑column format that would later be recognized as Plus–Delta. By the early 2000s, the method had become a common closing activity in facilitated continuous improvement workshops. However, it was not formally documented.
Plus–Delta is Published
Gamestorming is a structured, game‑based approach to creative thinking, problem‑solving, and innovation used in business, design, and facilitation. Plus-Delta became a staple of Gamestorming in the early 2000s, and the book formally published the method in 2010.
Today, most modern facilitation libraries trace their version of Plus–Delta to Gamestorming, even though many facilitators trace it to its continuous improvement lineage.
I first learned Plus-Delta in the early 2000s while facilitating operations improvement programs. It was a decade before I knew what Gamestorming officially was.
A Few Tips for Using Plus-Delta
These are a few high-level tips for evaluating your facilitated sessions at the end of the workshop.
Use the secondary facilitator or the executive sponsor to conduct the session.
Use one flipchart (or whiteboard) for the Plus and one for the Delta.
Remind everyone that “plus” is something you would like to see again, and a “delta” is something you would like to see less in the future. (Delta is something that needs to be changed, but not necessarily bad).
Don’t try to defend the deltas.
Provide the feedback to everyone later as part of the workshop summary.
Keep the exercise to 15 minutes or less.
Give each participant up to one plus and one delta – it’s fine to offer neither.
Why Plus-Delta Works
The Plus–Delta Feedback Method works because it is simple and time-effective. When used consistently, it helps technical professionals refine their facilitation approach and produce better decisions. The method is a small investment that delivers significant returns in clarity and performance.
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