What's your secret for getting feedback on public speaking?

In my experience, asking is the most effective way. Most people are scared to ask for feedback. They take it personal. Feedback is essential to growth!

Find a friend or small audience of friends and/or colleagues you trust. Make sure not to pick an audience that’s going to tell you what you *want* to hear, but instead… what you *need* to hear. It’s important to have a clear purpose for seeking feedback which allows you to receive more relevant and constructive input. I usually ask for 1 thing they enjoyed and 1 thing they would change and welcome additional criticism. Asking for one of each means you’re more likely to get that feedback. By specifying what aspects of your public speaking you want to improve, whether it's delivery, content, structure, or engagement, you'll make it easier for your audience, peers, or mentors to provide targeted feedback.

Feedback ? ?? Even the best of the best get scared, so Here’s the thing in public speaking you want to be sure if your message resonates , if structure of your words make sense, if the body language speaks your enthusiasm etc, because it’s not just about mere words but impact of what your words meaning of those words. So how do you get to improve ? EMBRACE the feedback good,bad n ugly , then seive through and redirect your focus on the constructive aspects and refine your moves . So buddy want to know if you’re improving ? Just ask for feedback and be specific to which area you require this knowledge…..

The short advice I have is join #Toastmasters. Of course, it is always wise to practice with friends/colleagues or have a friend or colleague give you feedback after your speech, by showing them video or having them attend your speech. Giving feedback is itself an art. (And that can also be learned at Toastmasters.) I haven't been able to participate during the pandemic with caretaking for my mom and now a new business and career, but it is absolutely a priority to get involved again. It's definitely worth your time.

A way of identifying your goals by looking back, and looking around: a) looking back: watch your past talks. Yes, it's hard and you will feel the cringe factor. But it's very important: what didn't you like about it? b) looking around: watch talks from other speakers at the events you go to, and online. What did you like about their talk? Is it something you can copy/get inspired by? By making a list and replying honestly, you will have a great starting point in knowing what to ask feedback about.

Using a variety of sources and a variety of feedback methods can help the presenter understand their strengths and any challenges they have in presentation skills (delivery) or in presentation content. Remember to keep the feedback requests focused, even if you use surveys/polls/questionnaires. Self-recording and viewing the session multiple times is a great way to develop self-awareness of your presentation skills and challenges.

A speaker shouldn't just rely on one source to gain feedback regarding their public speaking. One way to get feedback from an audience is to create a brief questionnaire and at the end of your speech/presentation share a custom QR code that links to the feedback form. Another sources I've found useful are the meet and greets at the end of a conference/event. It not only allows you as the speaker an opportunity to network with the audience on a personal bases, but you can also gain some valuable insight regarding their key takeaways. Lastly, if someone from the audience approaches you to speak at an event they are having THAT'S when you know you did a good job.

Elaborating on my previous answer, you want to find an audience you can trust. Choosing the right feedback sources is crucial for obtaining actionable insights into your public speaking. Keep in mind, different goals require different sources. Surveys, polls, or questionnaires are excellent options for understanding your audience's perception of your message. Additionally, recording and reviewing your own performance is a valuable self-assessment tool. And highly under utilized! By selecting feedback sources that align with your needs and preferences, you'll gather diverse perspectives to improve your public speaking skills effectively!

I don't think you should necessarely only pick one of those options: they all will offer a different angle, and you should choose all the ones that will be able to provide you insights into what you want to improve on (the list you made in with the previous section). When it comes to ask for feedback to the audience, remember that you can also just walk up to people at the events and interact with them, and ask them question! This will work better in small to medium environments, but getting feedback right after a talk - when your performance is still fresh in their mind - is a very insighful experience.

I typically record myself and share with persons not in attendance to gain feedback. Their reaction provides opportunities to improve, serves to socialize the previous event demonstrating the diversity of my skill.

If you ask for feedback AFTER ? You’ll get “nice compliments” that’s not going to help you grow. Tell them BEFORE you start , it’s weird I know but let them dissect you , it may start out looking bloody at first but it will give you an idea of what the general public is feeling , nothing to be ashamed of really, but with feedback your sure of one thing “improvement”

Asking for feedback in advance gives you the chance to get real and helpful input. Otherwise, you will get compliments. I like to use a mixture of 1-5 ratings and long answer questionnaires. If you can make them anonymous, even better! Another benefit to this practice is the attention that is payed to your presentation is much greater, and sticks better when your audience feels equally invested!

Setting the expectation of feedback allows your audience the permission to think critically as you engage with them. You will find that people are more comfortable in giving you their honest first-reaction, because they know that you are actually asking for it.

This works very well when doing what are called "dry runs", meaning performing the talk in front of a smaller audience (usually your colleagues, or the local meetup) to test your skill in delivering it. In these scenarios, having a slide before your title slide with the clear context and goals and what you want feedback about will help the people judging you focusing on those aspects.

First rule of asking for feedback, "Be open and READY to make changes based upon what you are told." If you're not ready, hold off on asking for input and put your energy into getting ready. AND, if you aren’t ready, give yourself grace, it is okay and very human! When you ARE ready trust the feedback you are being given, especially if you notice themes/patterns to what you are hearing and adjust accordingly. Refrain from asking for feedback and then disputing its credibility.

Also: not all feedback is true or valid! Sure, you don't need to dismiss any negative feedback just because you don't like to hear certain things. But, the other side of the medal of people giving you their perspectives is that sometimes they just don't have enough domain knowledge to actually provide valuable feedback. So remember that there's a balancing act between trusting your taste and instincts and just complying to everything everyone says. Performing a talk is not an exact science.

It can be easy to take feedback personally, especially when you are speaking on a topic that is precious to you or that you are passionate about. Know that your worth is not tied to your work. Read that again. Your work is simply an extension of what you decide to offer. And feedback is an offer to your offer. Sometimes people will offer you what they think is best, and it may not always be what it best. Practice your discernment. The act of being open to change, whether you change everything or only some things, is a powerful practice in of itself.

Focus on changing one thing at a time. If you enter into a speaking opportunity with a laundry list of things you need to change, then you'll get nervous and it won't work. Focus on one thing you want to improve on each time you speak. Add layers, don't change everything all at once!

A good forcing function to applying specific feedback is putting yourself in a position where your next talk hits that nail right in the head: let's say that you have been told that your talks are not technical enough. Perfect: next time apply to speak at conferences where only deep dives and very technical talks are required.

Feedback post event is where I find the most value and room for improvement. I normally pre-schedule a post event call. If that's not possible, I'll send a thank you email + a feedback form asking 4 questions: These four questions can provide up-level suggestions for future public speaking engagements : 1. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate my content and delivery? - If it’s not a 10, then ask them this “What would it take to get it to a 10?” 2. How could I make the event experience better? 3. What did you enjoy the most about my presentation? 4. Do you have anyone in your network that could benefit from my message?

My main advice would be this one: Hire a coach! Working with a public speaking coach will help you clarify your message, add an appropriate personal story ad get the best delivery possible. When delivering a big speech, the delivery is as important as the message itself. How you fluctuate you voice, how you move, what do you do with your hands etc etc. You want to be natural but rehearsed. Coaches will cut your preparation time and increase your performance. Hope it helps

Turn providing feedback into an unforgettable experience!!!Whenever posible I personally thank people who have given mconstructive critiism and praise, I highly recommend taking the time to thank people, individually,for taking THEIR time to provide thoughtful, insightful, actionable, helpful information! The feedback (I know, I know LOL) I have gotten since starting to do this is very positive! People often wonder if what they shared was seen, appreciated and acted on. Thanking people goes a long way in making them feel seen, heard, loved and valued AND it increases the chances they will provide feedback to the next person who asks for it! Have fun - send voice messages and videos!

The key lies in embracing the journey of continuous improvement, rather than chasing perfection. When stepping in front of an audience, resist the urge to overwhelm yourself with thoughts of changes; instead, focus on delivering your message authentically. If presenting remotely using Teams, leverage the "Speaker Coach" feature for real-time insights on pace, talking habits, and more. However, avoid overcorrecting based on every piece of feedback. Embrace your unique style, for it sets you apart and enhances your connection with the audience. Consistent practice is essential to refine your public speaking skills. Stay committed to honing your craft, and your presentations will flourish with newfound impact and effectiveness.

When I took a speech class back in college, my professor had a fabulous way of encouraging us to always give feedback. We had 2 note cards for each speaker. One would be on something that they did that was good, and the other was for constructive feedback. It practiced the discipline of paying attention to the good and the needs-improvement in every speech. This practice therefore instilled a commitment to growth.