How do you report and communicate the results and recommendations of your training evaluation plan?

1 Choose your format and audience

Depending on the purpose and scope of your evaluation, you may need to create different types of reports and communication materials for different audiences. For example, you may need a formal and comprehensive report for your sponsors, managers, or clients, that includes detailed data, analysis, and recommendations. You may also need a summary or infographic for your learners, peers, or the public, that highlights the key outcomes, benefits, and feedback of your training program. You may also need a presentation or a webinar for your stakeholders, that showcases your results and recommendations, and invites discussion and questions. Choose the format and audience that best suits your evaluation goals and the information needs of your recipients.

2 Use clear and concise language

When writing or speaking about your evaluation results and recommendations, use clear and concise language that avoids jargon, acronyms, and technical terms. Explain the purpose, methods, and criteria of your evaluation, and how they align with your training objectives and expectations. Use simple and direct sentences, and organize your information logically and coherently. Use headings, subheadings, bullet points, tables, graphs, charts, or images to break up text and illustrate data. Use consistent and accurate terminology, and define any terms that may be unfamiliar or ambiguous to your audience. Use positive and constructive tone, and avoid exaggeration, bias, or criticism.

3 Highlight the main findings and recommendations

Your report or communication material should highlight the main findings and recommendations of your evaluation, and how they relate to your training objectives and outcomes. You should summarize the key data and evidence that support your conclusions, and explain how they answer your evaluation questions. You should also provide clear and actionable recommendations for improving your training program, based on your findings and feedback. You should prioritize and categorize your recommendations, and indicate who is responsible for implementing them, and when and how they will be done. You should also acknowledge any limitations, challenges, or gaps in your evaluation, and suggest ways to address them in the future.

4 Provide context and comparison

To make your evaluation results and recommendations more meaningful and relevant, you should provide context and comparison for your data and evidence. You should compare your results with your baseline data, benchmarks, standards, or best practices, and show how your training program performed against them. You should also compare your results with other similar or relevant training programs, and highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your program. You should also explain the context and factors that influenced your results, such as the characteristics of your learners, the delivery mode and environment of your training, the resources and support available, or the external events or changes that affected your training.

5 Invite feedback and dialogue

Reporting and communicating the results and recommendations of your training evaluation is not a one-way process. You should invite feedback and dialogue from your recipients, and encourage them to share their opinions, questions, suggestions, or concerns. You should also provide opportunities for them to review your report or communication material, and to ask for clarification or more information. You should also follow up with them after you share your results and recommendations, and solicit their input on how to implement them, or how to improve your evaluation process. By inviting feedback and dialogue, you can enhance the credibility, validity, and usefulness of your evaluation, and foster collaboration and learning among your stakeholders and learners.

6 Celebrate and acknowledge success

Finally, reporting and communicating the results and recommendations of your training evaluation is also an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the success of your training program, and the contributions of everyone involved. You should highlight the positive outcomes and impacts of your training program, such as the achievement of learning objectives, the improvement of skills or performance, the satisfaction of learners or stakeholders, or the return on investment or value added. You should also recognize and appreciate the efforts and inputs of your learners, sponsors, managers, clients, peers, or other partners, and thank them for their support and participation. You should also celebrate and acknowledge your own success as a facilitator, and reflect on your learning and growth.

7 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?