Training - Training small groups - Encouraging participants and providing feedback (Part One)

Encouraging participants and providing feedback lets participants know that what they are doing is correct and how well they are progressing. Whether encouragement or feedback is verbal or non-verbal, it has a significant effect on how well participants learn and perform.

It is important that everyone feels comfortable with the forms of encouragement and feedback that you use. Check that non-verbal forms are acceptable. This can be achieved by:

* Being aware of how you encourage participants and give feedback.

* Finding out whether the things you do might be resented, embarrassing or rude.

Some examples to consider are:

- In some cultures touching any part of the body is not acceptable.

- Some people do not accept being touched by a member of the opposite sex.

- Some cultures consider it non-respectful for young people to have lengthy eye contact with older people.

- Some people are embarrassed by intense eye contact between members of the opposite sex.

Verbal feedback is most commonly given in spoken form, however, in some circumstances you may have to fill in a form or write a short report regarding participants progress.

Participants need verbal feedback about their progress because it helps them look at their weak spots in their performance and work out ways of overcoming them. As you observe them during the training session, choose certain times to pass on to each participant your comments about their progress.

Tomorrow we will look at eight aspects you should consider when giving feedback.

Mike Hitchen
Mike Hitchen Consulting