How can feedback help you find new speaking and collaboration opportunities?

Even the best, most experienced, and most confident speakers have room for improvement. Solicit feedback from people you admire and aspire to follow in their footsteps as much as you do from the more entry level attendees - all perspectives help us grow and challenge us to be better and more impactful speakers and presenters.

Many times, as a speaker, we are so focused on what we want to say, what the performance will be. But, great speakers welcome feedback! Unless you present the right information in the right format, even the right length is the key to truly impact your audience and, he he he, get more speaking engagements!

Feedback serves as a compass, guiding refinement of communication skills. By actively listening to feedback, adapting, and improving, one not only hones their speaking abilities but also showcases a growth mindset, attracting collaborative opportunities from those who appreciate continuous development.

Feedback is an essential part of any speaking or training event. It helps to understand the audiences perspective, their expectations and aspects they liked and did not like to improvise further. It helps in building your credibility, competence and calibre to be a better speaker.

Asking for feedback shows an audience that you care about them and their opinion. It takes you off a pedestal and shows that you appreciate them, and can vulnerable and are open to learn from them.

If you've been selected to speak at a conference, most of them will already have an established process for collecting anonymous feedback from their audience. Reach out to the organizational team ahead of time so you know what to expect. Alternatively, feel free to either get access to a recording of your talk (from the conference portal, or YouTube), or even record yourself. Ask your colleagues or community members that are well-versed in the topic to review the recording, and provide candid feedback. You may want to incentivize them in some way, however I find it's best to find another presenter for whom you can return the favour. Always be willing to pay it forward for the next up-and-coming presenter.

Feedback provide bearings on what your audience value, their resonance to your messages and enrich your interpretation of your subject matter with diversity of perspectives. Questions being raised at the speaking sessions are great for showing you what people want to know. Extend the synopsis of your sharing on other social platform to encourage comments and ideas. Another great way to collect feedback is to cultivate a community of like-minded peers, domain experts to embark in healthy debates.

In my experience as a speaker, about 10-15% of an audience fills out a feedback survey. Here’s how to get it from single digits to double digits: 1. End your 60-minute talk after 57-minutes. Leave the last 3 for them to fill out the survey real-time. Share the link if a virtual talk or show a QR code if live. 2. Send the survey within 24 hrs of giving the keynote. Bump it again 72 hrs later. 3. Limit yourself to 5 questions and use radio buttons / drop-downs for easy-to-assess quantitative data. Have 1-2 open ended for richer data.

There are a number of automated tools that will assess the transcript or recording of your speech and provide instantaneous feedback. One of the best ways to gain high quality feedback is to create a mastermind group of 3-5 experienced speakers and ask them as a collective to assess your performance. Alternatively join a public speaking group such as the Professional Speakers Association, or Toastmasters, and ask them to give you feedback. One of the best ways to improve is repetition of performance and feedback for iterative improvements.

These are a great way. It’s important to take into account the individual communication styles. Some people need to be able to give feedback verbally as writing or completing a form is hard for them

What's more important in the analysis of feedback is understanding what you did well, and maybe amplify next time, and what could be improved or introduced. What should you start, stop, or continue. This information can be split by content, structure, and delivery. What should you start, stop, or continue in each of these areas.

Some of the best feedback you're receive is from the audience during the presentation. Pay attention to their response... do they laugh when you land a funny line? Are they fully engaged in your stories? Are they eager to participate? The audience is your best barometer of your speaking. Respect them and they'll show you exactly what works and what doesn't.

To analyze feedback effectively, I first look for common themes or patterns in what people are saying. If multiple people mention the same strengths or areas for improvement, it's a clear sign of what’s working and what needs attention. I also focus on constructive feedback—what specific suggestions are being made and how they align with my goals as a speaker. It's important not to take criticism personally but as an opportunity to grow. By identifying actionable insights, I can make targeted improvements that enhance my performance, making me more appealing to event organizers and collaborators

As a speaker, i write my survey questions based on the outcome I want. Start with the end in mind. Let’s say I’m looking for a testimonial from the talk. No need to hide it! Here are three ways you could write this specific survey question: Bad: How did you like this keynote? Better: What did you like about this keynote? Best: What is one specific way this talk will help you? Example: “This talk will fundamentally change how I approach 1:1 meetings with my manager.” The more you know your goal, the more you can ask for what you want. And get it.

When I receive feedback, I use it as a tool to refine my speaking skills. I start by focusing on the constructive points, understanding what specific adjustments can make my delivery or content stronger. For example, if someone mentions I could engage the audience more, I’ll work on incorporating more interactive elements. I also make sure to build on the strengths highlighted, so I can consistently deliver value. Once I’ve made improvements, I can showcase my growth in future talks, which boosts my credibility. Organizers and collaborators appreciate speakers who are willing to evolve, and this can lead to more opportunities down the road

Feedback should be used to tell you 'what' you should do, and 'how' it can be actioned. To get this information you need to prime the people providing the feedback before hand, so they are prepared and consciously assessing your performance as it happens. It gives you the chance up front to help them identify what to look for in your speech, and to structure the way in which the feedback is delivered afterwards. Be cautious when mixing requests for performance feedback and natural interaction audience before, during or after you speak. There are different and often competing objectives between seeking actionable feedback and follow-on actions. Try and keep them distinct. Aim for planned feedback, and impromptu affirmation.

Using feedback as one tool in a while toolbox of tools to make changes in your business is important. Feedback is one persons opinion and perspective of potentially one aspect your business. It’s also important to take into the person’s experience in relation to what they are providing feedback on.

Audience feedback can be used to streamline and improve your presentation while client feedback can be converted into testimonials. Both are essential.

Setting expectations up front from an experienced speaker is an ideal way to illicit quality, actionable feedback to improve your craft. If you're looking to illicit more paid speaking opportunities, proactively do the same with event organisers and booking agents. Prepare them before hand, and then follow up directly afterwards. This can be a fertile ground for recommendations that you can use to amplify your marketing, and to get repeat bookings with the same agent.

Giving feedback to people encourages them to do the same and give you feedback. When you speak at an event let them know what worked well and what could be improved on and ask them for feedback about your talk. This is also a good idea for speaking opportunities you don't secure, ask for feedback on how you could pitch better.

Don't solicit feedback because you're looking for a pat in the back. Seek feedback because we always have room for improvement. The audience is constantly evolving, so is the world around us. The way we tell the story has to change as well to keep things relevant.

When we first embark in professional Speaking arenas, we tend to attend the 'Opening of an Envelope' if it will add to our profile. Over time, we need to be more considered in aligning our own mission and brand with the speaking opportunity. Being asked to speak is flattering to begin with, but even when you are starting out you want to take the time to ensure that you are presenting before your target audience. I have done many presentations at my own expense because I knew that it would help to have more people hear my insights - and I really want to educate humanity to learn to resolve their own mental health challenges. However, as a person I also only have finite resources, especially regarding my time - so now, I choose carefully.

Be careful in mixing the search for feedback as a mechanism to drive extra engagements, and feedback to improve your craft as a speaker. There are overlapping and competing objectives between the two, different methods of eliciting them, from subtly different audiences. Get the right feedback from the right person to get the right outcome. Alignment will drive success.

Feedback is worthless unless you collect the data and most importantly follow up. Implement a follow-up cadence and keep in touch. Relationships need to be developed before collaboration can happen. Feedback is but the first step in the nurture system of rapport, know, like, trust and collaborate.