What are the most effective ways to provide feedback on oral communication skills?

1 Set clear criteria

Before you give feedback on oral communication skills, you need to have a clear and consistent set of criteria to evaluate them. These criteria should be aligned with the goals and expectations of the communication situation, such as a presentation, a meeting, or a negotiation. For example, you might assess the clarity, coherence, relevance, and impact of the message, as well as the delivery, tone, body language, and audience engagement of the speaker. You should also communicate these criteria to the speaker beforehand, so they know what to focus on and how to prepare.

2 Observe and take notes

During the oral communication, you should observe and take notes of the speaker's strengths and areas for improvement. Try to be objective and specific, rather than subjective and vague. For example, instead of saying "You were too nervous", you could say "You used filler words like 'um' and 'like' frequently, which made you sound less confident". You should also balance your feedback with positive and negative aspects, and avoid personal or emotional comments that might hurt the speaker's feelings or motivation.

3 Use the sandwich method

The sandwich method is a popular technique to provide feedback on oral communication skills. It involves starting with a positive comment, followed by a constructive suggestion, and ending with another positive comment. This way, you can acknowledge the speaker's achievements, point out the areas for improvement, and encourage them to keep up the good work. For example, you could say "You had a clear and engaging introduction that captured the audience's attention. However, you could improve your transitions between the main points, as they were not very smooth or logical. You had a strong and memorable conclusion that summarized your key messages well."

4 Ask for self-evaluation

Another way to provide feedback on oral communication skills is to ask the speaker to self-evaluate their performance. This can help them reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses, and identify the areas they need to work on. You can ask them questions like "How do you think you did?", "What did you do well?", "What did you find challenging?", and "What would you do differently next time?". You can then compare their self-evaluation with your own observations, and provide additional feedback or guidance as needed.

5 Follow up and monitor progress

Finally, you should follow up and monitor the progress of the speaker after you provide feedback on oral communication skills. You can do this by setting specific and measurable goals for improvement, providing resources and support, and checking in regularly. You can also give feedback on their progress, and celebrate their achievements. This can help them stay motivated, accountable, and confident in their oral communication skills.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?