How can you tell if public speaking feedback is constructive?

Constructive public speaking feedback is characterised by its specificity. Suggestions that can be implemented, behavior-focused insights, an explanation of the impact, and a courteous tone are all hallmarks of constructive comments on public speaking. It provides a fair assessment, pointing out both achievements and room for development. This criticism is meant to encourage development and improve public speaking abilities, and it typically comes from reliable sources with relevant experience. If you receive feedback that is consistent across many viewpoints and focuses on your growth as a speaker, you can use this information to make educated decisions about how to enhance your performance and feel more in control of your path.

Just last week, I received negative feedback at a conference, lowest scores ever. The respondent gave me 1s across the board. Their comment said: I left halfway through. Was this person’s experience valid? Sure. As a speaker, I realize that my message won’t resonate with every audience member. At the same time, it’s important to strive to get better. In this case it helped that all other feedback were 5’s. (Softened the blow).

Completely agree. If you mentioned someone in your speech, for example, chances are they will think the speech was excellent. Also beware of feedback from people afraid to be honest - those who work for you or barely know you. Finally, feedback from someone hoping you fail (competitor, jealousy, envy) can also be dishonest. It's tough to get poignant and unbiased feedback, so be sure to record your own speeches and rewatch to see where you can get better. You're often unaware of your own body language, movements, etc., and watching film yourself will really help.

When you are speaking, the audience you are speaking to makes a difference in how they react or gives feedback. Say you are speaking at an event or conference and people want to be there t learn from you, their reaction and feedback tends to be better. If you are speaking in front of a potential client or someone you are selling, they will tend to be more specific and critical to make sure it is the right match. As always, practice and understanding your body language helps for better outcomes. But all feedback is positive to learn from good or bad.

After many years of reading my reviews (although I know plenty who gave that practice up for their mental health) I gleaned three things: 1) If I wasn't fully prepared someone would "eat me alive" - call me to task. Their criticism legitimate if sometimes cruel. (2) My physical appearance could trigger some people, a well-endowed blonde, I found dressing in black buttoned up to my neck helped people to focus on my words. But I would occasionally get negative comments (or sometimes unwanted positive comments) about my wild hair. (3) Most people are great but a few people are jerks. When I received a room full of happy reviews and one bitter review I knew it was the reviewer and not me. Try to brush off the bad and focus on the good.

In my experience, discerning constructive public speaking feedback involves assessing its specificity and actionable insights. Valuable feedback addresses aspects like content structure, delivery techniques, and engagement with the audience. Look for suggestions aligned with effective communication objectives: clarity, persuasion, and connection. Constructive feedback highlights both strengths and areas for improvement. Evaluate the source's credibility – seasoned speakers or mentors tend to offer more valuable input. Beware of vague criticism lacking practical solutions. Ultimately, weigh feedback against your presentation goals and make informed adjustments to enhance your public speaking prowess.

What is your vision or goals for improving in public speaking? When you have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, who you want to reach and what your message is, it becomes the lense through which you can evaluate feedback. If it is relevant and actionable it becomes milestones for developing a guide for development.

It's not hard to discern fake feedback from a genuine, well intentioned one and something that's specific and helpful as opposed to generic and for the sake of it. Some things to consider could be: - How relevant is it to your actual performance - this rules out generalisations - How specific is it - this helps understand exactly what needs improvement - How easy is it to apply - generic feedback is the hardest to apply. A bad example is: You need to work on your voice because it isn't great in some places A good example: Your voice modulation can be better, especially when you transition between points. Pay attention to this when you practice your next speech.

Here is where we should all analyze if the public speaker's content matches the speaker's content goals that the public can relate to to see if the feedback is constructive. The biggest question to ask yourself is if your audience's feedback further engages your users. The next big game changer in public speaking for 2024 is your audience's constructive feedback, which is a tool to measure your message's successes. Does your speech sound realistic to your audience? Do you properly use your audience's constructive criticism to improve your speeches' long-term goals of engaging your audience? Does your speech motivate others to act? If so, measure the level at which your public speaking content motivates others. #Feedback

Checking the content of the feedback is crucial. Early in my speaking career, someone told me I was 'too energetic.' Initially, it stung. But then I asked, 'Can you elaborate?' Turned out, they felt my energy overshadowed my message. That was actionable feedback. I worked on balancing enthusiasm with clarity, and it made a world of difference. it wasn't the actual content, it was the mixture of presenting it and the content itself ??? #ContentIsKing

Constructive public speaking feedback is characterized by its specific, actionable, and helpful nature. Look for feedback that offers concrete suggestions for improvement rather than vague statements. It should address both strengths and areas needing enhancement. Constructive feedback is respectful and focuses on the content, delivery, and impact of your speech, rather than personal attributes. It might include examples from your presentation to illustrate points. Genuine constructive feedback aims to guide your growth as a speaker and considers your objectives and audience. It may highlight how certain aspects could be adjusted to enhance engagement, clarity, or persuasion. Remember, valuable feedback may be critical.

We all have a fair idea of how we did on stage. So here are some red flags to watch out for: 1. Feedback that totally contradicts that is obviously not coming from a good place. 2. If the feedback points at something that you are actually good at - there's something fishy 3. Like I said earlier, if the feedback comes from a source that's not familiar with your speaking style or your upksilling journey might also give feedback that's not going to be relevant to you. Feedback is genuine and sincere if it starts with positives first, areas of improvement next and ends with how to put the feedback in action.

??Consider the context in which the feedback was given. Were there specific goals or objectives for your presentation, and does the feedback align with those goals? Sometimes, feedback may be valid but not entirely relevant to the intended purpose of your speech. Evaluating feedback in the context of your presentation's objectives can help you prioritize which aspects to address. ??Be cautious of feedback that is based on assumptions, personal preferences, or emotional reactions. For instance, someone might not like your speaking style or the topic you chose, but these preferences don't necessarily reflect the quality of your public speaking skills.

Imagine delivering what you thought was an eloquent and touching story and... it wasn't perceived that way. Feedback can be emotional. You want to make sure (depending on your message) that you are connecting with the audience with the right tone and intent. When giving feedback to speakers, I let them know, I heard them. I saw them. I felt them. If I didn't feel the connection, I let them know and perhaps suggestions on ways to better connect with the audience. Again - it depends on your message and goal but, yes, you can give feedback based on emotions - IF it calls for it.

First of all, genuine feedback is going to be crystal clear, supported by examples. Giving feedback is an art and someone experienced in it will ensure that every piece of feedback is backed by examples. But even if it is not, it's always a good idea to ask for specifics. Some simple questions could be: 1. What exactly do you mean by it? 2. Can you give me an example from my speech? 3. What made you feel that way? 4. Is there anything specific that I did? 5. Was that an isolated incident or throughout the speech?

I can't stress enough the importance of asking for clarification. After a workshop, I received feedback that my content was " complex". Instead of getting defensive, I reached out to ask for specific instances. Turned out, that it was my use of industry jargon that made it hard for newcomers. Simple fix: I now start with a glossary of terms, plus a short survey to make sure I'm aware of the audience's skill set in the subject matter ?? #ClarifyToImprove"

Feedback Provider's Expertise: The credibility of the person giving the feedback matters. Feedback from someone experienced in public speaking or communication carries more weight and is more likely to be constructive.

??Active Listening: When someone provides feedback, listen attentively without interrupting. Make sure you fully grasp their point of view before responding. ??Paraphrase: Repeat the feedback in your own words to ensure you've understood correctly. This can also signal to the person giving feedback that you're actively trying to comprehend their perspective. ??Reflect on it: Take a moment to think about the feedback and how it aligns with your goals and intentions. This reflection can help you formulate more targeted questions.

Asking for clarification 1. will help determine whether the feedback is objective or subjective, since the person will need to reword it and give examples. If it feels subjective, name this by repeating back the clarification, e.g. “I understood you to say that X means Y. That feels subjective to me. If Z (the subjective factor under different circumstances), would you have the same feedback?” 2. gives the critic a chance to pause, rethink and deepen (or change) their feedback 3. could lead to new insights of your own, since you’ll receive additional information

Actionable: Constructive feedback provides actionable advice. It suggests steps you can take to enhance your skills. For instance, instead of saying, "Your body language was weak," it might suggest, "Consider making more eye contact with the audience and using hand gestures to emphasize your points."

One of the best ways to apply feedback is to bring it into your daily practice! And yes, if you want to get better at public speaking, practicing everyday is a must. Great feedback will already tell you how to apply. Plus, you can also ask for resources and other online assets to further understand the application part of it. And when you practice everyday, you bring in the feedback. It could be better structure of your thoughts or voice modulation that's more impactful.

??Identify Key Areas for Improvement: Begin by carefully reviewing the feedback you've received. Look for recurring themes or specific suggestions that multiple people have mentioned. These are likely the areas where you need the most improvement. ??Based on the feedback, establish specific objectives for improvement. For example, if multiple people mentioned that you speak too quickly, your objective could be to slow down your speech rate by a certain percentage. ??Develop a detailed action plan outlining the steps you need to take to achieve your objectives. ??Consistent practice is key to improvement. Incorporate your action plan into your regular public speaking practice routine.

I always tell speakers, you can give a speech, a presentation a thousand times, but without feedback, it may never get better. You have to listen. You may not adapt all the feedback to improve but the feedback is given to you to improve - not to fail. Use it.

Great feedback focused both on what one does well and how they can continue to use those skills with greater effectiveness and it focuses on what can be done to improve. Often constructive feedback is giving in a way that focuses on “what’s wrong” - instead of focusing on what felt difficult and concrete actions that could be tried to improve. Of course it should always be given in the spirit of continuous improvement and caring support.

Positive and Negative Points: Constructive feedback is balanced. It highlights both strengths and areas for improvement. This helps you understand what you're doing well and where you need to put more effort.

??Listen Actively: When receiving feedback, listen attentively to what the person is saying. Maintain eye contact, nod, and use verbal cues like "I see," "I understand," or "Thank you for sharing your thoughts" to show that you are actively engaged in the conversation. ??Follow-up: After making changes based on feedback, follow up with the person who provided it. Share your progress and let them know how their feedback has helped you. This reinforces the idea that you value their input.

Generally, it’s beneficial to lead with areas where the speaker excelled ( “Your introductory story was a crowd pleaser. It was personable.”), followed by an area in need of improvement with an actionable item. (“I noticed at times your cadence changed and the audience was not able to keep up with you. Adding purposed paused can help slow down your speaking, giving the audience time to process your points.”) Be sure to end the criticism on a positive note.

Any feedback is crucial. if we don't teach ourselves to listen carefully we will miss the opportunity to grow, unlearn, and learn, how to get better at what we do and as an outcome in our public speaking activities. it's a muscle you need to develop, but an important one

Appreciation and gratitude are key in building positive working relationships. Thanks acknowledging specific areas that were particularly helpful is also useful to the person providing the feedback. They may be working on improving their skills as well and learning through the process.

Embrace discomfort in the company of brave souls. Courage is a prerequisite. Cowards not allowed. ?? Nuff said. Full stop. Period. Connect. Relate. Belong. Receiving feedback with grace and poise is a great way to connect with others, enhancing moments of relating, which cultivate belonging.

emember, receiving constructive feedback is a valuable opportunity to enhance your public speaking abilities. Even if the feedback might initially seem critical, focus on the potential for growth and improvement it offers.

Feedback is one person's opinion. Just as someone may like a song another person dislikes it does not make the song good or bad. Take any feedback as part of a wider input and look for themes