rate the trainer

When I'm training I always like to get written feedback from my class. I helps me to identify gaps in my program and it enforces to the learners the idea that in business, client feedback is an essential part of the Darwinian development of one's products and services. There is of course a danger in this process since it is highly unlikely that everyone in the class is in harmony with the trainer. They may be having a bad day and not in the mood to give positive feedback or - what is more likely they have anticipated learning something that I failed to deliver.

My technique to address this is to keep an eye on the clock and about fifteen minutes before the scheduled end of the class to ask everyone if they have had all their questions addressed in the session and if not, to pose their question at this point so we can collectively address it. This makes it difficult for any of the learners to later say that the point that they hoped to learn was ignored, that then leaves the written assessment comments to focus more on the overall message and the quality of the deliverer.

As a trainer, I find that I always have room for improvement, plus of course, like all human beings I have my off-days when my energy lags and it is therefore both reasonable and helpful that a learner in the class can rate me as less than energized. I refer mostly to the energy issue because I believe strongly that this is the second most critical element in training next to content. Even mediocre material can always have impact if delivered with passion, although hopefully none of us would ever settle for mediocre material. On the other hand even superb material and anecdotes can fall flat if delivered from the safety of the podium with low energy and little engagement of the class. So I say to my learners, keep those assessments coming in - and keep me on my toes!