What are the most effective ways to give and receive feedback when storytelling in a networking context?

1 Why feedback matters

Feedback is essential for any skill development, and storytelling is no exception. Feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, refine your message, and adapt to different situations and audiences. Feedback can also boost your confidence, motivation, and creativity, as well as build trust and rapport with your listeners. However, not all feedback is created equal. You need to know how to give and receive feedback in a constructive, respectful, and actionable way.

2 How to give feedback

Giving effective feedback to someone who has shared a story with you requires being supportive, specific, and solution-oriented. To start, appreciate the effort, intention, or impact of the story, and highlight what worked well for you. Constructive criticism should be sandwiched between two positive comments, and said without harsh or vague language. Focus on one or two areas of improvement, and provide examples and alternatives to show how the story could be improved. Before giving feedback, ask the storyteller if they are open to it and how they prefer to receive it. Afterwards, ask them how they feel about it and what they plan to do with it.

3 How to receive feedback

When receiving feedback from someone who has listened to your story, it's important to be open, curious, and grateful. To ensure you're receiving effective feedback, listen actively and attentively without interruption, arguing, or defending yourself. Ask clarifying questions to gain more insight, and seek out diverse perspectives for a richer understanding. Reflect on the feedback without taking it personally and identify the key takeaways you can implement in your next story. Finally, thank the feedback giver for their time and insights. Showing your appreciation will help them know their feedback has been helpful.