What do you do if you receive feedback as an event planner that you strongly disagree with?

Step 1: Understand the root of your reaction Is it emotional since the feedback refers to something very dear to your heart? Or is it a professional since the feedback suggests managing certain aspects of the event in such a way that would be a disaster? Step 2: Calm down You need to have a clear head to digest feedback. If you are exhausted, anything can push you over the edge. Once, I had to delay the event retro for two weeks, since I was in no state to properly receive feedback. Step 3: Consider it Regardless of the origin of your reaction, you need to consider the feedback. And if the feedback is very subjective - try to see where that person is coming from. Maybe, the solution they proposed is not valid, but the root cause is!

Listen, retrieve details, discuss & sort it out. Each & every person is important when it comes to personal life or professional life.

One time at work, I received feedback about an event I had planned . The feedback was about the event's layout, which I had meticulously planned and thought was perfect. In my experience, it's important to stay calm and listen to the feedback, even if you disagree with it. One thing I’ve found helpful is to reflect on the feedback. I took some time to think about the points raised and realized that while I may not have agreed with all of them. Remember, it's okay to disagree with feedback, but it's also important to remain open to different perspectives and opportunities for growth. Feedback, whether positive or negative, is a valuable tool for improvement. It's all about how you handle it and what you take away from it.

During a post-event debriefing session, a client expressed dissatisfaction with the seating arrangement at the venue, claiming that some guests felt isolated from the main activities. Initially, I felt defensive because I believed the seating plan was well-thought-out. However, instead of immediately dismissing the feedback, I chose to listen fully. I asked probing questions to better understand the specific concerns and invited the client to elaborate on their experience. By actively listening and empathizing with their perspective, I discovered that certain areas of the venue were indeed overlooked in the seating arrangement, leading to some guests feeling excluded.

I actually asked directly my attendees their negative feedback once. "What was the WORST thing you've encountered on this event?" I asked them directly at the end of the event. It was an interesting question as it surprised people. But it was better than just to ask for a review, because this way, they would try to build a constructive critique of the event, that I could use to improve the next ones.

Sometimes I need to get perspective from other team members or customers. I rarely take action based on just one person’s opinion, but if it’s consistent feedback then I’ll ask for other input. I’ll never forget when I got feedback about the music I was playing. At first it felt personal but eventually I realized our audience wanted a different vibe and it had nothing to do with me. I misunderstood who we were serving. Once that became clear I could hear the criticism and make adjustments.

After receiving feedback from a client about their dissatisfaction with the catering service at an event I organised, I initially felt defensive and frustrated. However, I took a step back to reflect objectively on the situation. Instead of dismissing the feedback or becoming defensive, I chose to objectively analyze the catering service during the event. I reviewed the menu, observed the catering staff's performance, and gathered feedback from other attendees. Upon reflection, I realized that there were indeed some issues with the catering service, including delays in serving food and a lack of variety in the menu. Acknowledging these shortcomings, I approached the client with a solution-focused mindset.

Reflecting on feedbacks are important in order to know where to make adjustments are needed. Though some feedbacks might come with criticism, the most important thing is to remain calm while considering the plans and preparation for the event rather the person's behavior.

Clarity is essential for both sides to be mutual ground. And so, in any case whereby there is need for more clarity or better understanding on a feedback, one of the best things to do is seek for further details or probably request for a sample. Seeking clarity can also be achieved through the use of constructive questions.

One thing I have found helpful is listening and taking criticism. Maybe wrong or right.i listen carefully and respond constructively.

In such cases, words like "I believe there's still a better option," or "Thank you for that {advice/feedback}, but I think there's more to it. If the criticism still stand, then we can response in a calm approach stating and explaining the reasons why you disagree with the feedback

Always, Always, Always confirm that you received what they said. If you don't agree, build a consensus around other vendors and workers about what happened. If they are a great client, fix it. If they were terrible from the beginning, apologize and move on.

One response pattern I have found helpful is the "feel, felt, found, find" phrasing. It goes something like this: * Thank you for sharing. I understand how you FEEL. * I have sometimes FELT that way too. * What I have FOUND is <describe past experience with their suggestion>. * I am confident we will FIND ways to improve our event in the future. This pattern of communication helps me to listen to understand (and not only to respond). It also helps me to articulate in a way that is assertive and yet not confrontational.

Sometimes, embracing changes from feedbacks could serve as innovations or improvement most especially in this ever evolving world

It depends whether I am strongly objecting to any feedback "Logically" or "emotionally" Often when we emotionally object to any feedback or criticism , we at the back of our mind are actually trying to justify our faults rather accepting the fault logically will show us the path of rectification.