How can you handle overwhelming feedback?

1 Be prepared

Before you give your presentation, think about what kind of feedback you want and need. Do you want to focus on your content, delivery, structure, or audience engagement? Do you want feedback from a specific person, group, or source? Do you want feedback right after your presentation, or later on? Having a clear goal and plan for feedback will help you avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant or conflicting comments.

2 Be selective

You don't have to accept every piece of feedback you receive. Some feedback may be inaccurate, biased, or unhelpful. Some feedback may be based on personal preferences, rather than objective criteria. Some feedback may be outdated, irrelevant, or unrealistic. Be selective about which feedback you pay attention to, and which feedback you ignore or discard. Use your own judgment, experience, and goals to filter out the noise and focus on the signal.

3 Be organized

Feedback can come in different forms, such as verbal, written, numerical, or visual. It can also come from different sources, such as peers, mentors, clients, or online platforms. To handle feedback effectively, you need to organize it in a way that makes sense for you. You can use tools such as spreadsheets, charts, notes, or apps to collect, categorize, and analyze feedback. You can also use techniques such as ranking, grouping, or highlighting to identify the most important, relevant, or actionable feedback.

4 Be respectful

Feedback is a gift, not a threat. Even if you disagree with some feedback, or find it hard to hear, you should always be respectful and appreciative of the people who give it to you. They are taking the time and effort to share their opinions and insights with you, and they may have valuable information or perspectives that you can learn from. Thank them for their feedback, acknowledge their points, and ask for clarification or examples if needed.

5 Be proactive

Feedback is not the end of the process, but the beginning. You need to take action on the feedback that you receive, and use it to improve your presentation skills. You can set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals based on the feedback that you receive. You can also seek out more feedback, or follow up with the people who gave you feedback, to track your progress and evaluate your results.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?