How to Create an Effective Survey for Training Feedback in 3 Steps

Introduction

Feedback from training and development programs is vital for ensuring targets are met. Online surveys provide an ideal way to get it done. We will demonstrate how to create an effective survey that leads to valuable insights into your trainees’ experience.

Accordingly, we will follow three key steps towards a well-designed post-training survey, providing better evaluation of your training programs. We want to help you engage trainees, encourage clear and constructive feedback and shape future workshops for greater success.

 Step One  Understanding the Purpose of the Survey

The reason for your survey may seem obvious. Yet you can look deeper to increase the value of the potential feedback. You know better than anyone where you are with your training programs, in addition to the specific needs of the trainees.

Indeed, you can tailor your training feedback survey to cater to your main strengths and weaknesses of as well as those of your audience. This ensures you know what is working well, what could be improved and whether you have met your training expectations. A focused survey will empower trainees and show that your company cares about their outcomes. That leads to great feedback. It also ensures your training business is on the right path.

Once you have identified the survey objectives, you have a straight-forward survey creation process. The direction is set, and you are ready to  craft your survey questions. The smart move here is to use a relevant template from a good online survey tool. That is the first key step to creating great surveys that help grow your business.

From there you can add and adjust the survey template to what matters for your business and trainees. In fact, you have a clear starting point. You already know your approach, goals and trainees’ expectations (if not, a needs analysis survey would be a great idea). This will ensure that, as a training and development professional, your surveys are always relevant, on point and impactful.

 Step Two  Engaging Trainees in the Feedback Process

Engagement is key to obtaining meaningful feedback from your audience. You can show that you mean business with a good quality and well thought-out survey, that you value feedback and respect your trainees’ and client’s time. Questions that hone in on your expectations of your training outcomes are crucial for a solid evaluation. Indeed, you can craft questions based on your knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of your programs. These will likely appear more personalised, honest and relevant. You want the survey to hold your trainees’ attention by giving them confidence that they are doing something that matters.

A good online survey tool will give you the option to use a range of question types. These can be used to add variety. When each type is used carefully, and chosen to match the potential answers, as well as make the survey experience more interesting, you can save your participants time. For example, if the question has 4-5 expected answers, list then rather than make it open-ended. In contrast, keep it open-ended or with the option to add comments if the question is about the overall experience.

Trainees should feel empowered to express both positive and negative views, believing that their feedback will be valued and used to drive positive change. When trainees are happy with and confident in the the survey process, they are more likely to provide thoughtful and insightful feedback that can contribute to the improvement of future training programs. As important, your trainees and client see that you are taking the outcome of the training seriously. Whatever the experience, people are happier to know it was shared directly with the providers.