Feedback training at Be-Life

DESC-method training, from theory to practice

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Project at a glance
Client
Be-Life
Function
HR
Challenge
The DESC feedback method was known but remained theoretical and inconsistently applied across teams with varying levels of experience.
Solution
Altesia HR co-designed and delivered a one-day, highly practical DESC training combining refresher content, hands-on exercises, and a personalized follow-up booklet for 40 employees.
Impact
A clear, equitable and sustainable people framework supporting growth, delivered with strong internal alignment and confidence.
The training gave us concrete tools we can actually use at work and in our company, starting tomorrow. We really understood how to put the DESC method in action.
Priscille Louvrier
Priscille Louvrier HR Manager at Be-Life

Background

 

At Be-Life, fostering a culture of open and constructive communication is seen as a key driver for effective teamwork. A few years ago, the teams were introduced to the DESC method, a structured approach to giving feedback. While the initial session brought awareness, it had remained largely theoretical, and many felt unsure how to apply it in real work situations.

As in all organisations, communication and the need for recognition and appreciation at work are areas that require continuous improvement.

 

That’s why Be-Life’s management decided to organise a new DESC training with two key objectives in mind:

  1. Create common ground for both long-standing employees and recent hires. The training needed to be complete for new employees, and offer a refresher without feeling repetitive for employees who already had followed the first training.
  2. Make it practical and anchored in real-life situations. The focus this time was on moving beyond theory to hands-on practice, so participants could leave the session feeling ready to apply the method immediately.

Our Approach

The approach was built around a co-designed, interactive training program focused on practical application and direct relevance to everyday professional situations.

  • 1

    Training design

    The Country Head, Didier De Vos, reached out to Altesia’s Client Relationship Director, Dimitri Hunin, to address the situation. The role to be filled was particularly demanding. While Glory Belgium operates with a lean local finance team, it is also part of a global group with complex reporting standards and cross-functional expectations. The position therefore required a profile capable of combining hands-on execution with the ability to operate in a structured, international environment.

  • 2

    Training delivery: participating and engaging methods for a hands-on training

    The sessions combined theoretical inputs with hands-on exercises, including group work, role-playing, and guided reflection. The DESC method was directly connected to participants’ day-to-day situations, with an additional module on the Four Agreements to link the framework to familiar personal communication principles.

  • 3

    Post-training follow-up

    Instead of a standard slide deck, participants received a tailored post-training booklet capturing flipchart photos, shared group insights, and personal notes from the sessions, ensuring continuity of learning and grounding it in the team’s collective reality.

  • Tailored post-training learning support

    Instead of a standard slide deck, participants received a customized post-training booklet featuring photos of flipcharts, shared group insights, and personal notes captured during the sessions, ensuring continuity and anchoring the learning in their collective experience.

DESC feedback

Results

Feedback was very positive: participants appreciated the engaging delivery, the relevance of the exercises, and the immediate applicability of the method.

Compared to the earlier, more academic version of the training, this new format was described as much more lively, concrete, and empowering. The training helped unblock communication habits and brought a renewed energy to the company’s feedback culture.

 

The survey results confirmed the training’s strong impact: participants found the method clear (4.8/5), the exercises useful (4.5/5), and praised the quality and energy of the facilitation (4.6/5). Most felt the session length was well balanced, and over 95% said they felt ready (fully or partially) to apply the DESC method at work.

The personalized follow-up material was also widely praised. Unlike traditional training handouts, it reflected the group’s own contributions, which helped anchor the learnings and gave real meaning to the process.

 

Following the success of this training, Be-Life is now exploring additional collaboration with Altesia, including:

  • A tailored programme for the Customer Service team, focused on defining and embodying a strong customer-centric posture, potentially co-creating a shared charter of behaviours.
  • An external review of the company’s compensation policy, to bring in fresh insights and benchmark against best practices.