Will Thalheimer has written a provocative and well-researched book on traditional smile sheets, an invalid evaluation instrument used at the end of most training sessions. In his book, Will offers performance-based checklists as useful alternatives.
Along with hundreds of readers of the book, I have stopped using smile sheets for end of the session evaluation. But I use them, in a playful fashion, at the beginning of training sessions a tool in this opening activity.
Synopsis
The participants predict the end-of-the-training ratings on a smile sheet. They discuss what they—and the facilitator—should do during the training session to obtain a perfect rating.
Purpose
To develop a list of facilitator and participant behaviors that would improve the rating of a training session.
Participants
Minimum: 4
Maximum: Any number
Best: 10 to 20
Time
20 – 30 minutes
Equipment and Supplies
A pad of flip chart paper
Felt-tipped markers
Handouts
Training Session Rating Sheet
Preparation
Prepare a training evaluation rating sheet, using the sample at the end of the article. You may use the five items from the sample or you may change them to better suit your training context.
Flow
Distribute rating sheets. Explain that this sheet will be used when the training session is completed. Invite the participants to review the rating sheet items and ask questions if they need clarification. Answer the participants’ questions briefly and clearly.
Ask for predictions. Explain that you are going to use the rating sheet in a different fashion today. Instead of waiting until the end of the training session, ask the participants to use their imagination and predict their probable reaction by circling an alternative under each item. Announce a 2-minute time for this task.
Review the ratings. After about 2 minutes, ask the participants to share their ratings. Go through the rating items one at a time and ask the participants to shout out their choices.
Obtain suitable facilitator behaviors. Explain that you are intrigued that nobody predicted a perfect rating for all of the items. Ask the participants to pair up and come up with ideas that you, as the facilitator, could implement to ensure the maximum rating for the training session. Announce a 2-minute time limit.
Discuss desirable facilitator behaviors. After about 2 minutes, invite the participants to guess what would have been the most popular suggestions from their cohorts. Record the ideas on a flip chart and discuss each idea. Share additional ideas that you had heard from previous participants.
Seek suitable participant behaviors. Steer the discussion toward collaboration between the facilitator and the participants to ensure a high-rated training session. Once again, ask the participants to pair up. Have them think of ideas for what they should do to ensure a high-rated training session. Suggest a 2-minute time limit for this conversation.
Discuss desirable participant behaviors. After about 2 minutes, invite the participants to guess what would have been popular suggestions from their behaviors. Record the ideas on a flip chart sheet and discuss each idea. Share additional ideas that you had heard from the previous participants.
Select ideas to implement. Announce the three ideas that you have selected to implement to improve your behavior. Follow up by inviting pairs of participants to select three ideas they want to implement. Enthusiastically suggest that if everyone implemented the selected ideas, you are sure to end up with the highest-rated training session.
Training Session Rating Sheet
Reflect on your experiences during the training session. Circle the alternative under each of the following items that best describes your reaction:
Organization of the training session
1. Totally Disorganized
2. Disorganized
3. Neutral
4. Well-Organized
5. Totally Well-Organized
Interest Level
1. Very Boring
2. Boring
3. Neutral
4. Interesting
5. Very Interesting
Relevancy to the Workplace
1. Extremely Irrelevant
2. Irrelevant
3. Neutral
4. Relevant
5. Extremely Relevant
Briskness
1. Extremely Passive
2. Passive
3. Neutral
4. Active
5. Extremely Active
Psychological Safety
1. Very Insecure
2. Insecure
3. Neutral
4. Secure
5. Very Secure