To ensure feedback is constructive for your growth in public speaking, it’s important to approach the process with openness and clarity. Start by being specific about the kind of feedback you’re looking for. This helps others focus on areas you want to improve, whether it’s your pacing, clarity, or engagement with the audience. Encourage balanced feedback, asking for both strengths and areas for development. Additionally, seek feedback from a variety of sources—peers, mentors, or audience members—who can provide different perspectives. Finally, reflect on the feedback and create an action plan to implement those suggestions, fostering continual improvement.

To enhance your public speaking, start by knowing the impact you want to create and the expectations of your audience. When you’re aligned with this, break it down into key elements like projection, storytelling, and engagement. Ask for feedback on these specifics, focusing on what worked well and what could improve. This helps ensure feedback is constructive and targeted for growth. Remember, a great talk isn't just about speaking—it’s about making each person feel like you’re talking directly to them. When you can do that, you create a lasting impact without needing to say more.

One thing that I insist on is getting a speaker evaluation from each participant. The more detailed and precise the questions, the better for me. I look for what I'm doing right and areas for improvement. I ask for takeaways and what they will start doing differently based on my content. I ask for their recommended changes. It is so important to note what to remove and what to add. Once you read the evaluations, take time to absorb the information, then be prepared to break it down, create an action plan, and act on it!

I thing I find best suited for speakers is those who can be authentic with the audience, making the audience feel connected to them through storytelling and personalization. I love to recognize the success and achievements of others and provide knowledge and data showing I have researched those in the audience. Those little nuggets of information and feel good moments sit with people making you memorable not only as an expert but as a human. Be humble and be awesome!

Embracing feedback is integral to grow as a public speaker. Feedback is not personal. Implementing proper feedback is the best way to grow as a speaker. Its important to both identify which areas you feel you are lacking in and also to get feedback from peers, mentors & friends. Look within and ask yourself where you feel you need to improve- delivery, body language or audience engagement. Watch recordings of your speeches and observe yourself. Ask peers to be specific in their feedback and not generic. If someone says your body language could have been better ask them specifically which aspect could you have improved on. Implement feedback and practice. Record yourself and then share with peers to gauge improvement.