After learning how to deliver a presentation, the next part of your management training is to learn how to review the presentation you’ve delivered and evaluate your performance. There are three steps that you need to follow in order for you to successfully review and evaluate your presentation. These steps are as follows:
- Implement techniques to review the effectiveness of the presentation
- Seek and discuss reactions to the presentation from participants or from key personnel involved in the presentation
- Utilise feedback from the audience or from key personnel involved in the presentation to make changes to central ideas presented
Implement Techniques to Review the Effectiveness of the Presentation
Once your presentation has been delivered then it is time to review how effective it was.
Some of the ways in which you will know whether you achieved your objectives include;
- Some or all of the participants or prospects will make a purchase – if not immediately then some time in the future
- Feedback from the participants will be positive
- The participants will take the action you wanted them to take
- You will be asked to conduct more presentations to the same group
- You will get referrals from the presentation
- The objectives you set out to achieve will be achieved
The standards at which you present will have a direct impact on whether or not the objectives were met.
Creating a set of standards will give you a professional edge and help you to contribute to improving subsequent presentations. This is an important part of the training for managers.
One way to do this is to put together a matrix to keep track of each presentation you deliver. On the right side of the Items section, you can grade either positive or negative. You can also include another section for further suggestions.
Item
Presenter
- Was the presenter on time?
- Did the presenter know the material?
- Did the presenter build rapport?
- Did the presenter convey the message appropriately?
- Were questions asked efficiently?
- Did the presenter demonstrate appropriate body language?
Venue / Facilities
- Was the venue suitable?
- Was the set up of the room suitable?
- Was the equipment effective?
- Were the resources suitable?
Participants
- Were the participants able to understand the presentation?
- Did they have a chance to ask questions?
- Was the information given to them in a logical format?
- Were issues dealt with appropriately?
- Was there a focus on their needs?
- Were they thanked for attending?
- Did they have a chance to provide honest feedback?
- Were there any sales made as a direct result of the presentation?
Follow Up
- Have the participants been followed up after the presentation?
- Was there a focus on the participants and their needs?
- What are the next steps planned for the participants that attended?
Seek and Discuss Reactions to the Presentation
Apart from reviewing how effective the presentation was, you should get an idea from the participants or other stakeholders involved in your presentation on how successful it was.
One way to do this is to get the participants to fill in a feedback form. The presenter should also complete a reflection form to determine what areas they feel they went well in and what areas may need improvement for future presentations.
All stakeholders or key personnel should be consulted to provide feedback and further comment on suggestions for improvement. Learning from feedbacks is an important characteristic of a good leader. There are many frontline management courses to help you become one.
An example of a Participant Feedback Form is below;
Participant Name:
Date of Presentation:
Presenter Name:
Venue:
Was the presenter well prepared for the session?
Was the venue suitable for the presentation?
Was the presentation clear and easy to understand?
Was the information relevant to you?
Did the presenter encourage feedback and participation?
Were the resources appropriate and adequate to the presentation?
Do you have any further comments?
Would you like someone to contact you in relation to your feedback?
Utilise Feedback from Audience
Often, a presenter will make the effort to get the participants to fill out feedback forms or even complete a self reflection exercise, but will not follow through and take advantage of the information given to them.
It is important that you collate the feedback received, along with any suggestions, and make the necessary changes to each and every presentation you deliver. You may need to tweak or amend small things that didn’t work, or change big things as well. Strive to constantly improve your skills as a presenter and become the best presenter you can be, by using this information to your advantage.
This is the last part of the Presentation series. If you want to become a better presenter and leader, visit our website to learn more.
Intellitrain provides the Certificate IV in Frontline Management and the Certificate IV in Small Business Management in Online and via RPL.
