How to offer feedback (2)
“We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.”
Bill Gates
As I was saying in the previous article (easy accessible here), the ability to give feedback or make an assessment that is NOT perceived as malevolent when it is constructive, it is truly an art. When you want to give feedback I would recommend you to take into consideration these four things:
- empathy (would you like to hear the words you are using?),
- it is about the process, the project, the speech not about the person,
- focus your words on improvement - with real examples and solutions that can be implemented,
- encourage the person and make him/her to want to work with you more, for the way you offered your feedback / evaluation, even if it was more on the ”how to improve” rather than ”what I loved about…”
The evaluation in Toastmasters aims primarily at increasing the speaker' speaking abilities by identifying things that work, those that have to be worked upon, and the skills where the person excels. This is done with exercise, and above all, it is done according to the needs and level of the person that is evaluated. One size does not fit all in feedback! A poor evaluation can lead in a decrease of self confidence. It is true also that we are all adults here and that we are in TM for self-development. Also not everyone is able to accept improvement feedback, especially given that it is handed in front of a room filled with people. So, to be short and on the goal of this article, it would be better to have a conversation with the one you will evaluate before the project and see what things they want to hear in public, and what needs to be shared in a personal conversation.
Now, let's continue with the methods of organising an evaluation / feedback:
MLVSC
Medium - analysing how input is made, presentation layout, visual aids, covered speech area or stage movement (did the speaker walk on the stage during the speech or stay in one place from the entrance)?
Non-verbal language - distraction habits (hand-to-hand, hand-to-pocket, flapping), facial expressions, visual contact, posture, presence and gestures that have or not to do with the subject.
Voice - The volume is appropriate to the room and the context, the tone, the inflection and the speech speed is adapted, the voice transmits emotion or is paid.
Structure and content - the language used, the logic of argumentation, the clarity of expression and the ease of tracking the structure, there is openness, content and conclusion, how have the transitions been made between them?
ANSVA - this kind of evaluation / feedback can be used when talking about persuasion or inspiration
Attention - did the speaker catch the attention of the room by the way he spoke, the subject approached, used the vocal variety or the stage movement?
Need - the way the speaker mentions the need of the public and goes beyond acceptance and gives relevance to it, the use of statistics and examples to convince the public to do something
Solution - provided by the speaker in response to the need identified above;
Visualisation - Through the words or visual aids, the speaker managed to make the audience visualise a solution to be implemented or the negative consequences that may exist if they are not involved; the choice of visual aids and details in the descriptions were the right ones?
Action - at the end of the speech there is a clear and specific call to the audience to know what to do next?
PIES
Positive - a review of what the speaker did well, which for the evaluator counted and brought something extra on the stage
Improvement - where and how it could improve speech to the speaker in the future
Encourage - the part that the assessor appreciates and emphasizes (it would be ideal to already know) how the speaker grew
Summary - review of the above.
COD - it suits those who have to work on the organisation - both to the assessor and to the speakers
Content - The topic was one for the public, information that the public can use
Organization - there was a clear structure, with transitions from one side to the other, the language was appropriate, style figures were used to make the subject even better
Delivery - the use of visual aids, non-verbal, the way in which he enjoyed the stage and interacted with the audience, charisma, everything that can pleasantly capture the audience.
COPE - This type of assessment is very good for someone who wants to work and to improve their presentation skills not just for oratory (someone who wants to go to Spectacle, Improvisation, Acting) or for someone who wants to work the ability to work with PowerPoint, KeyNote or other software to make presentations.
Content - The topic was one for the public, information that the public can use
Organization - there was a clear structure, with transitions from one side to the other, the language was appropriate, style figures were used to make the subject even better
Presentation - The elements used as a whole: voice, non-verbal, stage motion, visual aids have all been used to support and add value to the allocution and public experience?
- For those who want to work on their presentation as in the visual aid of the public speaker (power point, keynote), it will be about design, the way it has been in the speech, the assessment will be based on visual aid and how it has been integrated or not.
Energy - the speaker delivered and energised the room, adjusted his speech and the way he exposed it to the audience so as to get maximum impact.
Both in Toastmasters and in any activity constructive feedback is the best way to grow, but the way it is delivered makes the difference between learning something or blocking the learning process. Be a roadrunner for those who want to grow and show them that feedback does not hurt! :)
