Personal Feedback Training for Arts Managers

Personal feedback can be a powerful tool for building strong, effective relationships with your colleagues. By challenging people positively and clearly on the way they behave or go about their work, you’ll create an environment for open, honest communication, improved performance, and personal growth.

But giving personal feedback is hard. It can feel uncomfortable, or even unkind. Theatres and productions survive through the power of strong teams and great relationships.

This workshop explores the concept of radical candour and invites you to see feedback as a gift - a route to better support, celebrate, and grow the strengths of every member of your team - yourself included!

Run as a pilot with SOLT & UK Theatre in spring 2024, it’s also been delivered to every member of the team at Spektrix, marking the beginning of a cultural shift toward greater collaboration across the organisation.

This practical session will set out key principles, followed by a workshop to practise giving and receiving personal feedback. Throughout the day, you will:

• Explore the concept of ‘radical candour’
• Appreciate the value of giving and receiving personal feedback
• Practise giving personal feedback in a facilitated, supportive environment
• Shape your team to deliver effectively on business outcomes

Co-produced by SOLT, UK Theatre & Spektrix, this half day course is designed to support the development of mid- level arts managers.

The course takes place in-person at SOLT & UK Theatre (32 Rose Street, London, WC2E 9ET), and also includes an online follow up session roughly 40 days later to review attendees’ learnings and development.

This course is designed for:

Arts managers who want to develop their leadership style and progress in the theatre sector.

Tickets are available to those new to line management, as well as mid-level and Head of Department level (or freelance equivalents).

13:30 | Arrival, tea, coffee, introductions

14:00 | Ice breaker and learning objectives. Reviewing the key themes of the day

14:15 | What is personal feedback? Agreeing what the group understands this term to mean

14:25 | Group conversations on personal feedback

14:45 | Introducing methods for delivering personal feedback

15:05 | Afternoon Break

15:35 | Personal Feedback in practice: Facilitated workshops to try giving and receiving personal feedback, with real-world examples that are relevant and familiar to delegates

16:10 | Receiving personal feedback. Being prepared to listen to feedback from others, and what to do with it

16:25 – 17:00 | Closing & Group Commitment: review the day and agree as a group what we’ll try back in the workplace before our online review session in 40-45 days

Alice Young: Alice started her career in community arts, moving into education programmes, fundraising and people/project management from within and for local authorities, schools, venues and charities. This led her to join Trinity College London and Arts Council England to lead the Arts Award - the national qualification for young people. Alice then worked across Trinity's Dance and Drama 50+ international qualifications. Alice joined Spektrix in 2017 as Managing Director and alongside her responsibilities for ensuring UK and Irish clients' exceptional experience with Spektrix, she plays a key role across people and culture work and in the development of the Spektrix team.

Michael Nabarro: Michael Nabarro co-founded Spektrix in 2007. He's passionate about the role that the arts and entertainment can play in making the world better, and found his calling in supporting arts organisations by providing them with the tools and support needed to build strong relationships with their audiences and develop their revenue streams. Michael has a degree in Computer Science from Cambridge University and previously trained at RADA as a lighting designer.

You can cancel up until 10 working days prior to the course, and receive a full refund (not including Eventbrite Fee's, which are non-refundable). Any cancellations after this will not be refunded, but ticket value can be transferred to a future course up to one year later. For full terms, please see the section below.

If you are attending in-person, please visit the UK Theatre Accessibility page on our website for detailed information.

Please note that unfortunately our lift will be out of order.

• Attendees who require a Carer or Personal Assistant to accompany them on the course can book a free Carer ticket by emailing [email protected].
• Ramp access at ground floor level (there is otherwise one step into the building).
• Reception and conference rooms are located on the first floor of the building. This can be accessed via 25 stairs. Please note that our lift will be out of action during this time due to scheduled refurmishment. We apologise for this inconvenience.
• Assistance Dogs welcome throughout the building and to all events - the nearest park is Jubilee Gardens (by Embankment tube station - a 7 minute walk).
• Hearing loop systems are available in the meeting and conference rooms.
• Regular breaks will be scheduled throughout the day.

Please email [email protected] if you have any additional access requirements or questions.

Host or Publisher UK Theatre