In our previous article, we discussed tips on how a talentmaster can deliver an effective first session. The next natural extension to an effective first session is the feedback-exchange process.
Feedback is an essential part of any effective learning process. But still, exchanging feedback can be a daunting task for any professional. Talentmasters tend to feel these unavoidable qualms due to multiple reasons.
It is recommended that a talentmaster shares regular feedback, even if the high frequency seems an impediment.
While most talentmasters agree that feedback is an important peg in the game, they don’t understand the right way to exchange constructive feedback.
Talentnook brings to you 3 simple ways of ensuring that feedback takes your tutoring journey from strength to strength:
1. Exchanging feedback regularly with the student -
high frequency and the right mix of formal and informal tonality
- Hold a small 5 – minute feedback conversation after every session (ask questions like, how well did you understand the topic today? Do we need crisper handouts? Would you prefer having music notes a day prior?)
- Keep the tonality slightly informal and conversational but be clear in your feedback
- Give clear examples of “scope for improvement” (e.g. a silly mistake that pulled down the overall score in an examination)
- The most effective feedback is one that has a positive outlook, doesn’t include blaming and has an encouraging and participative tone to it. For example,
“We are not making progress because you never finish your homework on time!
versus
I think we can do better if you give some more time to homework and if I can share notes in advance.
2. Exchanging honest feedback with the parents -
set schedules, discuss, showcase, accept and have clear asks
- Do not exchange feedback too frequently with the parents, rather keep at least a week’s gap in each discussion
- Accept and acknowledge any improvisations suggested by the parents
- Set achievable expectations and politely refuse anything that’s undoable. No promise is better than an unfulfilled promise after all!
- Always include a progress report to keep your feedback exchange structured and validated
- Maintain notes of feedback received from the parents and in the next feedback session showcase actions that were taken accordingly
- Never blame the student or use negative adjectives while giving feedback to parents (keep the tone constructive)
- Also, suggest using Talentnook’s message board for anything important or something that the parent needs to know on a regular basis.
3. Exchanging feedback with the CET
At Talentnook, a CET (Community Experience Team) member is someone who is with the user (parents or talentmasters ) from the first day of their visiting Talentnook website. Both parents and you can continually share feedback with the CET member.
Keeping the CET member in the loop ensures a seamless experience for both you and the parents.
The CETs actively get involved in any issues or concerns the parents or talentmasters might have and try to resolve those with the best possible interests of everyone involved. Hence, sharing timely feedback with the CET is one pivotal step in ensuring that there is no gap in information, communication or mutual understanding.
And now, congratulations! You’re through with the whole process and best practices of exchanging constructive feedback. Once you know how to make feedback exchange work, you’ll always end up having more stickiness with your clients. Try our suggestions and make the feedback process super easy and mutually benefitting.
Read our next post to understand how to effectively close a lesson and leave a lasting impact on the student (and parents).