… in seminar and training settings

Misconception 1: Feedback is always a gift!

I have been exposed to and observed too many bad feedbacks. Those that are devastating and only remind of defeats like an F in Latin in school or feedback that only praises in a general way: „Your performance convinced me.“ That’s not a gift and doesn’t help anyone. The right approach to giving feedback is: How can I phrase my feedback in a way that my counterpart can take it as a helpful gift?

… so that feedback becomes more accurate

Helpful feedback is based on precise observations. General feedback is of little help. I need my pad and pen to take notes while observing. This is the only way to make my feedback accurate. Digital natives probably do this with tablets or suchlike.

Tips for organising feedback in groups

There are many arguments for giving feedback in seminars and longer training courses not only to trainers but also to the other learners. Of course, such rounds are often time- and energy-consuming. Therefore, here are tips on how to organise these feedbacks in groups.

A tool for helpful feedback

Often, feedback givers and feedback takers in seminars and training sessions know little about each other. We don’t know what is helpful and what we should pay particular attention to. So why not ask the trainer and pre-structure observations and feedback in a short conversation beforehand?

Let’s take the training of negotiation strategies, presentation skills or moderation techniques as examples. Before the training begins, the trainer starts a short conversation, as informally as possible, for subsequent feedback. This is not very easy because the participants‘ minds are already on the performance.