Everyone's A Critic | the art of asking for constructive criticism

I know... I'm showing my age with this post, but when it comes to criticism my memory always turns to Statler and Waldorf from the hit television series The Muppet Show . They were two cantankerous old puppet men who heckled and criticized the rest of the Muppet Show cast (and even each other) from their prime balcony seats.  Statler and Waldorf found their criticisms very entertaining with most segments ending in mutual laughter at their own wisecracks and witticism.  From my recollection, no one ever asked for their feedback or criticism, they just offered it without reservation.

I have found that most people do not offer feedback or criticism without prompting.  Mostly because people do not want to create conflict.  Sadly, people will share their criticisms with others before they will share it with me and most of the time I never hear their thoughts and therefore do not benefit from knowing how they felt about their small group experience.  Many of the unrevealed criticisms are valid and if addressed, could positively shape the experience for everyone in the group.  For instance, on the last night of our video curriculum based small group series I found that more than one person would have had a better experience watching the video if the volume would have been turned up louder.  Unfortunately, I didn't know this was their experience until I asked for feedback on a short survey which we had participants fill out on the last night of the small group session.

What is the moral of the story? Ask for feedback early-on and at the end of your small group season.  Feedback and constructive criticism will help you create an optimal environment for learning, connecting and relating.

Below is a sample survey for your use with your small group.  Note that the questions evoke positivity and constructive criticism.  As you form your own survey questions, I challenge you to make the survey brief and avoid asking questions that will provoke negativity like: What did you like least about this course?

Sample Survey Questions:

Thanks for attending!

Please fill out the quick survey as a way of helping us understand your experience!

We appreciate your feedback!

Name: ____________________________________

Email: ____________________________________

What influenced your decision to attend this small group?

What did you like best?

What was the most memorable thing about the series?

How could we improve the experience for others in the future?

What other kind of group might you be interested in?
(More on marriage, parenting, finances, etc?)

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Survey Says!? | getting group member feedback

Do you remember that old prime-time game show called Family Feud where two families would compete against each other to name the most popular responses to a series of survey questions posed to 100 people.  Sometimes families were able to correctly match popular responses given by the 100 people surveyed.  Other times, teams would collect three strikes [X's] and lose the round, partly because they were under pressure and partly because they were culturally out of touch.  As life group ministry leaders and group leaders, we should not assume that we know what the people are thinking!  A simple survey can help leaders keep in touch with the people they are hoping to serve.

 Here now are a few reasons why a survey may be helpful:

1)  Gauging interest.  Ministry leaders may look to gauge interest in a certain type of group through an interest survey.  Questions in an interest survey may help reveal things like; who is interested, what time and what day a group should meet, and where a group should meet and other participation influences or factors.

2)  Improvement:  Every ministry needs to undergo updates and improvements in order to remain effective.  Surveys can affirm what is working and bring insight and understanding as to what is not working so well.

3)  Understanding:  Leaders can trim down the the learning curve it often takes to serve people well by creating a "getting to know you" survey.  Simple open ended questions may help you explore the thoughts and life experiences of your group members or potential group members.

4)  Impact:  A good survey will often help harvest stories of impact that may otherwise have never been known or shared.  People are often able to write, rather than speak their thoughts concerning the impact a group has had on their life.  While people may be shy or less open about sharing with you or the group verbally, a survey may help them open up and reveal what being a part of the group has meant to them.

Click Here to Visit the 2014 Winter Life Group Participant Survey
(survey related to First Assembly Community Ministries ~ Life Groups)

 Below is a sample survey we used to gain important feedback from our small group participants.  You may want to use a web based survey tool such as surveymonkey.com as as way of creating your participant survey.  This same too is great for collecting and calculating survey results.

[Sample Life Group Participant Survey]

1. Participant Name:  (optional if you are looking to receive anonymous feedback)

2. Fall Life Group(s) you attended:
If you did not attend a Life Group this season,  please use the space provided to share with us why.

3. Which of the following best describes your involvement in your Life Group

• Highly involved
• Frequently involved
• Somewhat involved
• Infrequently involved

4. How would you describe the spiritual growth you have experienced through your Life Group?

• My Life Group is helping me grow spiritually
• My Life Group is somewhat helping me grow spiritually
• I am not growing much as a result of participating in my Life Group
• I am not growing spiritually as a result of being involved in my Life Group

Additional Comments:

5. How would you describe the people you met in your Life Group?

• I count them as my friends
• The people in my Life Group are warm and friendly
• Nice people but most are there for the activity or content of our Life Group
• Not a very warm or relational group

 6. How would you describe your overall Life Group experience?

• Exceeding my expectations
• An excellent experience
• A good experience
• Mostly good experience
• Not a very good experience

Additional Comments:

7. Please rank what the importance of the following factors you consider when signing up for a group?
(1 being the most important factor)

• Who is leading the group
• When the group is meeting
• Where the group is meeting
• What the content or activity of the group is
• Who else is attending the group
• Childcare
• Length of the group in terms of weeks
• Cost of participating in the group
• Amount of "homework" associated with the group study

8. Are you planning on signing up for a Life Group next season?

• Yes
• No
• Maybe

Additional Comments:

9. Would you be willing to lead or host a Life Group in the future?

• Yes
• No
• Maybe

Additional Comments:

10. What has been the best part of being in a First Assembly Life Group?

11. As we approach the next season of Life Groups, what is the one thing you would tell someone who is considering signing up for a Life Group?

12. Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about your Life Group experience?

What questions do you feel are the most important questions to ask Life Group participants as you seek to build, sharpen, or enhance your life group leaders and ministry strategy?