Page 180 - Communication in Organizations Basic Skills and Conversation Models

Appendix B 169

Short guide for the observer

Besides observing, it is the task of the observer to watch the time and to allow the
preliminary talk and evaluation of the role play to proceed as efficiently as possible. This
overview is very useful during training sessions.

Preliminary talk

1 Discuss with the conversation leader:
• the specific skills or the conversation model
• learning points.

2 Make agreement on:
• duration of the role play and evaluation
• time out and intervention of the observer.

Feedback

1 Give the conversation leader the opportunity to ‘let off steam’.
2 Ask the conversation partner to give their first impressions.
3 Give short feedback yourself on:

• achieving the goal
• adhering to the structure
• attitude of the conversation leader.
4 Give both the opportunity briefly to react on this.
5 The observer gets the opportunity to structure their observations.
6 For each phase:
• indicate which skills were used functionally
• which skills were not use functionally
• give suggestions for improvement
• give the conversation leader (and possibility conversation partner) the opportunity to
react.

7 Offer a summary in terms of ‘old’ and ‘new’ learning points.
8 Offer the trainer (if available) the opportunity to give extra feedback on the
conversation leader’s skills and on the observations.