How to Run Seminars and Workshops, 4th Edition

Chapter 13Giving Feedback and Coaching

Probably one of the most emotional issues that any presenter must deal with, on a regular basis, is giving feedback to students. On the surface, this may appear to be a rather insignificant issue, but be assured, it most certainly is not.

To begin with, it is extremely difficult to judge just how well a student will receive the feedback you intend to give. This uncertainty regarding how feedback will be received can be one of the major pitfalls that awaits a new presenter. On the outside, most students appear to accept feedback readily. It is socially and professionally unacceptable to act any other way. The problem is, students do not internalize such rules.

Pitfalls to Avoid

The first trap a new presenter can fall prey to involves working with a student whose learning pace falls behind the pace of the seminar. Often, in an attempt to catch this student up, the instructor creates an overload of negative feedback. Not only can this demoralize the student, but it can also confuse the major items that need repair from the minor items. Once again, the old saying “If you emphasize everything, you emphasize nothing” comes true in this scenario. The student typically tries to fix everything and therefore ends up fixing nothing. Now the presenter is faced with a demoralized student who most likely will continue to drop further and further behind and will resent your feedback as well.

The second mistake a new presenter can make involves working ...