Video feedback coaching
One of the hardest parts about trying to improve as an educational presenter is being able to objectively see how the audience perceives you and your presentation. This is why even highly trained, experienced actors need support from stage directors.
They need an external eye. Honest but caring.
So do you.
If you would like me to offer you feedback based on my experience as an educator and presentation trainer, I've created this online video coaching service. Have a read about the service below to check we're a good fit for each other and then get in touch.
How it works
I will watch a video of your presentation which you have shared privately with me and reflect on it.
Then we'll jump on a call to discuss your strengths and any areas you might want to develop further as a presenter. Or you might be more interested in feedback on the structure and content of your presentation.
We'll be able to watch key parts of the video together and deconstruct them. No, really ... it's not as painful as it sounds. 🙂 You'll also be able to ask me specific questions and raise any wider presentation concerns that you have.
The session was superbly presented and run, and even though the audience ranged from 10-year science communication veterans through to people starting out in their first job, Paul was able to tailor each session so that everyone took something worthwhile away from the training.
Neil Cartwright
Lab and Projects Officer
We The Curious
My approach as a presentation coach
Whilst presentation coaching is definitely not therapy, trying to publicly engage others in a subject which you passionately care about feels intensely personal and vulnerable. That's because it is.
Presenting can be both thrilling and terrifying.
In several professional and voluntary roles I have experience in listening to people and in trying to come alongside what they are feeling without making assumptions or judging them.
As a coach, my job is to listen carefully to you, to support and encourage you, and, at times, to gently challenge some of your thinking and behaviours. Any specific advice I give will always be delivered as a suggestion, not a directive.
The biggest lesson I've learnt when giving feedback is how to shut up.
I use my judgement, based on your experience and skill level, to work out which are the next two or three most important steps that will help you progress further along your path. Being able to distinguish these critical steps from all of the other less important presentation notes is what will allow you to develop as quickly as possible. That judgement, to be honest, is what you're really paying a presentation coach for.
And just in case you're worried - I won't try to turn you into someone you're not. My approach is based around helping you discover which parts of your personality are most engaging for your audiences and encouraging you to bring these out more when you're presenting.
How much it costs
In many education sectors there is barely enough money to fund group training, let alone pay for individual coaching. So, this personalised support is more likely to be viable when the outcome of the presentation coaching can be directly linked to a funded project or to some monetary gain.
The presentation feedback package costs £195 + VAT. This includes preparation time to watch and reflect on your video; an online feedback discussion session (lasting up to 45 minutes); and a brief written report suggesting which areas to focus on next.
I will invoice you after the session and you can pay by card online or by bank transfer. If your organisation requires a purchase order to be drawn up first, I can send you a quotation to facilitate this.
Money-back guarantee: the relationship between coach and coachee (yep, apparently it's a word) is a powerful, yet fragile, thing. It depends on many subtle factors such as mutual trust, shared expectations and our unique personalities. Sometimes the chemistry just isn't there after only one call. So, if you are unsatisfied with the session for any reason, I will listen to your concerns and try to learn from them. You won't be invoiced for the call - it's not in my long-term interest to have a disgruntled client.
The inclusive approach which Paul used to develop the workshops, coupled with his friendly and capable approach, ensured that this training was welcomed and enjoyed by all participants.
Arlene Bell
National Museums Northern Ireland
FAQs
I specialise in helping interactive, educational presentations. So witnessing this interaction live and then analysing it with the help of a video would be the best way for me to provide you with the most reliable feedback.
But, unfortunately, I have to balance this approach against the environmental, efficiency and cost consequences. Bearing these issues in mind, the best compromise I've found is offering video feedback through an online discussion.
Me too. If it helps, the video you submit is never made public. And in my experience, there is nothing as powerful as being able to see yourself as we discuss exactly how you're using specific engagement techniques. This will allow you to get more value out of the coaching process in the long-term.
1. You submit an enquiry form describing the presenter or the presentation you would like feedback on.
2. If I have availability and I think I can provide sufficient added value in this case, I'll email a simple contract for you to sign electronically.
3. You submit a video of the presentation to me (up to 60 minutes long) using a link or by uploading a private video to an online platform. It's good practice to inform the audience before the presentation that it may be recorded for training purposes, but that this recording will never be made public. The footage does not need to be high-quality - using the camera on your phone is fine, as long as it can pick up most of the audio from the presenter and the audience.
4. I will send a link to an online calendar where you can select a mutually convenient date and time for the feedback session.
5. For the call we will use a video conferencing platform that you can access online through a link. I will be using the video screencasting facility during the call, but your device will only need to have access to a microphone, not a camera.
6. I will then send you a written summary of the main issues we discussed with suggestions about the next 2 or 3 steps to take.
Yes - this a vital part of the coaching process.
The only time feedback will be shared is when your organisation has booked the session for you as part of your professional development and you have explicitly agreed in advance to a summary of the feedback being sent to them.
Without wanting to sound like an smarmy salesperson engineering false scarcity, I genuinely only have limited availability for these sessions. Even though I find it rewarding to help individuals directly, my current focus is on creating scalable resources which can reach as many educators as possible.
Please don't be offended if I am not able to offer a session when you enquire.