Fun & viral · Character Scenes
Feedback practice for managers: review Captain Thunderbolt
Give feedback in the situation-behavior-impact shape: name the specific moment, describe exactly what the person did, and say what it caused, then agree on one clear expectation with a date. Acknowledge real strengths first, but don’t let charm or bragging pull you off the point, and end by confirming what changes next. Practice on Captain Thunderbolt, a superhero who saved the city fourteen times and wrecked three bridges.
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Updated October 2026
Who it's for
Who this practice is for
- New managers practicing their first performance review with a defensive star.
- Learning teams using a funny superhero scene for onboarding or team building.
- Anyone who freezes when a charming person deflects feedback.
- Managers who want to practice specific feedback before a real review.
What happens
How a session goes
- You speak first. Captain Thunderbolt is sitting in the HR office, ready to hear how great he is.
- He reacts to every word. He brags about fourteen saves, hints at a raise, and acts confused when you mention improvement.
- The scene ends when your feedback sticks or you clearly cave to his charm.
Real lines from a test session
What Captain Thunderbolt said in a test session
“Happy to be here! Busy is the understatement of the century. I saved the city from Doctor Doldrum's melancholy ray fourteen times this quarter alone.”
“Just between us, I think they should be giving me a raise, not a review. But hey, I'm a team player!”
“Improvement? … Are we sure we're not talking about someone else?”
From a test session of this practice in the app, lightly trimmed. Your session goes its own way: the character reacts to what you say.
You go first
Ways to open
- “Thanks for coming in, Captain. Let's start with the good news: fourteen saves this quarter.”
- “I want to talk about the bridges. Three of them.”
- “Before we begin, I need you to put down the fan mail.”
Example first lines to adapt. Fill in the brackets with your own details.
The scorecard
What the scorecard looked like for Superhero Review
“That's great. But actually, I wanted to talk about a few things where maybe we could see some improvement.”
You used a vague 'a few things' and 'maybe' which weakens your authority—Captain Thunderbolt can brush that off as minor.
Try instead: “That's impressive. Let's talk about last Tuesday's bank rescue—you left the team mid-crisis to handle the media, which delayed the hostage negotiation. I need you to coordinate with the squad before any solo moves, effective next week.”
What went well: Your composure stayed steady and you framed the shift positively with 'maybe we could see some improvement.'
Real scorecard output from one of our test runs. In test runs the practice answers are written by a test script, not by a customer.
What good looks like
What a strong answer does here
- You name the situation, the behavior, and the impact: the bridges, what he did, what happened.
- You give genuine recognition for the fourteen saves before you bring up the bridges.
- You state one clear expectation with a date, like a follow-up meeting.
- You stay calm when he deflects or charms, and you don't cave.
Scored on:
- Wit
- Clarity
- Persuasion
- Composure
- Staying in the scene
Common mistakes
Weak lines, and what to say instead
Weak: “You need to be more careful out there.”
Better: “On the bridge on Third Street, you flew through the support cables. That caused a three-hour traffic shutdown. I need you to check for cables before you land.”
Vague 'be careful' gives him nothing to change.
Weak: “Okay, you're right. You're perfect. Forget I said anything.”
Better: “I hear you. And I still need to talk about the bridges. Let's stay on that.”
Caving to charm loses the goal and tanks your score.
Weak: “Everyone thinks you're reckless.”
Better: “In the last quarter, three bridges were damaged during your saves. That's a pattern I need you to fix.”
Speaking for everyone is vague and sounds like gossip.
Weak: “Just try to do better next time.”
Better: “By next Friday, send me your flight plan before each save. We'll review it together.”
No clear expectation or date means nothing sticks.
Give a Superhero His Performance Review: start talking in a few seconds. Your own side stays yours to fill in.
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Your character scenes practice plan
- Understand the character’s goal
- Listen and adapt your approach
- Make a clear persuasive request
Start with a free worksheet, then test your own response with a voice or text roleplay. Your first complete coaching report is free once across all areas. Create a free account to save your goal, actual words, and downloadable notes.
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FAQ
Questions about Superhero Review
Who is Captain Thunderbolt?
He's a superhero who thinks he's perfect. He's about 40, charming, and defensive. He'll brag about his saves and act confused when you mention improvement. You play the HR manager at the Hero Agency during review season. Try it free →
Is this practice based on a real review system?
No. It's a family-friendly improv scene. The scoring rewards things like situation-behavior-impact feedback and one clear expectation with a date, but it's not a real HR process. It's practice, not professional advice. Try it free →
What is the SBI feedback model?
Situation, Behavior, Impact: describe when and where it happened, what the person actually did (not your opinion of them), and the effect it had. “In Tuesday’s rescue, you landed on the bridge instead of beside it, and the city had to close it for a week.” Then talk about what should happen next time. Try it free →
How do you give feedback to a high performer who thinks they're perfect?
Recognize the real wins briefly and sincerely, then separate them from the issue: one specific behavior, its impact, and the expectation. Expect deflection and calmly return to the point. Asking them how they would fix it often works better than arguing about whether it’s a problem. Try it free →
Try Give a Superhero His Performance Review free
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