How can a DECA member gain valuable feedback after a competition?

Gaining valuable feedback after a competition is crucial for growth and improvement, and reviewing the judges' comments and scoring sheets is the most effective method. Judges provide specific insights into the performance, highlighting strengths and identifying areas that require improvement. Their evaluations are based on established criteria, making their feedback objective and actionable. By analyzing these comments, a DECA member can understand what was effective in their presentation and what aspects need refinement for future competitions, enabling them to enhance their skills systematically.

While discussing with fellow competitors can offer some perspective, their feedback may not be as well-informed or structured as that from the judges. Asking friends for personal opinions may result in subjective and biased feedback that may not be relevant to the competition standards. Analyzing previous years' scores can provide a general sense of performance trends, but it lacks the immediate, contextual feedback that judges' comments deliver for the most recent competition. Therefore, focusing on the judges' feedback is the best approach for DECA members looking to improve their competitive performance.