Evidence-Based Team Development

StepBacks improve the conditions that drive performance

Four years of data across multiple organizations, connecting 15-minute sessions to the team outcomes leaders need most.

4 years of data Multiple organizations Post-session & longitudinal measurement

What participants report

Consistent results, across organizations

Post-session perception data across multiple organizations shows a consistent pattern: StepBacks are experienced as valuable — and participants report meaningful gains in exactly the areas teams need to function well.

Experience & Value

% of participants rating 5, 6, or 7 on a 7-point agreement scale

Engagement 91% Found sessions relevant and engaging

Value 89% Reported strong personal value

Value 87% Reported strong professional value

Sustainability 88% Believe StepBacks are worth sustaining

Reported Impact

% of participants reporting a positive impact (mean scores ranged from +2.7 to +2.9 on a –5 to +5 scale)

Team functioning 99% Reported a positive impact on their team

Performance 98% Reported a positive impact on their performance

Well-Being 97% Reported a positive impact on their well-being

Detail view

Impact on specific team outcomes

Within the team impact category, participants reported movement on the specific behaviors that drive collaboration and performance.

Relevant & Engaging 90.6%

Improved Connection 89.0%

Personal Value 89.2%

Worth Sustaining 88.3%

Professional Value 87.4%

Improved Communication 85.7%

We started using StepBacks in our team meetings a couple months ago. The engagement level of the team has visibly increased — even in virtual meetings. What's been really cool is seeing team members bring up the StepBacks later in the week or month, talking about their thoughts or how they used the tool after the meeting. If you're looking for a way to get better engagement and have real conversations that help people grow personally and professionally, StepBacks are the way to go.

Brady Simpson — Senior Manager of Customer Success, Submittable

The research connection

Why these outcomes translate to business results

StepBacks target the team conditions that established organizational research — Gallup, McKinsey, SHRM — has independently linked to hard business outcomes.

1 StepBack Sessions 15-minute bi-monthly format. Low friction, high consistency. EMI direct data

2 Team Outcomes Improved communication, connection, and well-being across 99% of participants. EMI direct data

3 Employee Engagement Only 31% of U.S. workers are engaged. Connection and communication are primary drivers. Gallup research

4 Business Results Higher engagement correlates with measurable gains in profitability, productivity & retention. Gallup · McKinsey

Engaged teams show 23% higher profitability, 17% higher productivity, and 59% lower turnover (Gallup). Effective communication practices are linked to 25% productivity gains (McKinsey). Poor communication costs organizations an estimated $12,500 per employee annually in lost productivity (SHRM). StepBacks systematically improve the upstream conditions driving these outcomes.

Measurement roadmap

From perception data to proven impact

Our current evidence base is strong perceptual data — what participants experience and report. The next phase establishes objective before/after measurement across the full engagement timeline.

✓ Baseline eNPS · Job satisfaction · Retention rates · Reputational scores

3 3 months 6 sessions completed · First perception check · Early signal review

6 6 months Mid-year assessment · All metrics re-measured · Trend analysis

9 9 months Q3 check-in · Behavioral shift review · Org-specific outcomes

12 12 months Full-year impact report · ROI calculation · Renewal recommendation

Employee Net Promoter Score Job Satisfaction Reputational Scores Communication Effectiveness Team Cohesion Psychological Safety Org-specific outcomes

Ready to measure what matters?

Start with a baseline assessment and let the data tell the story of your team's development.

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