How do you test your speech content with a sample audience?

Because I work in a social work field as a therapist, I find that gathering a small group of socially informed lay people provide unique perspectives on how the information will be received by my target audience because my audience are often a mixture of those with mental health issues, those who love them, and the professionals who treat them. A well-informed, self-educated in the social work field, with a broad age group always seems to nail it when something might need to be tweaked. They provide unique feedback because, while they are emotionally invested, they are not usually emotionally attached and are eager to learn. This approach has served me well.

As a public speaker since 2019, I always aim to deliver the best speech possible and I do that using this little secret... I've been testing my speech content using social media since 2020. I share excerpts of my speech(es) on various platforms and wait for feedback. I use organic results to gage the interest and when a post performs well I boost it with paid promotion for 72 hours to get a deeper insight for less than $15-20 dollars (CND) I use and receive feedback to refine my speech content, making it more relatable and engaging. The end result always leaves me with a speech that deeply resonates with the audience. TLDR: Test fragments of your speech content using social media proved to enhance your public speaking skills!

It is also really important to make sure the feedback form accesses if the PURPOSE of your speech was met. Delivery is important yes. But what action do you want your audience to take from your speech? Have a goal for this in mind and ask your audience on their feedback form if after the speech how likely they would be to complete this action. An easy way to measure ROI if your speech is a sale pitch for your services.

I agree with this approach. Allowing the audience to provide verbal feedback can also be helpful because other people may agree or disagree with the point but either way, it gives the opportunity to explore the benefits of the observation.

Learn the importance of feedback forms SOONER rather than LATER! At first, I was hesitant to use them as I feared negative comments but soon realized that feedback forms are critical to improving performance. I created then in google doc's and include the link at the end of every presentation in the chat and in my slide. I always look forward to reading the valuable insights people provide. I get to learn what parts of my speeches were unclear, what topics resonated with the audience, and what areas I need improvement. With this feedback, I was able to make adjustments to my presentations and become a better public speaker. Now, I encourage others to use feedback forms and embrace the FIRST HAND constructive criticism they provide.

Being able to share observations on printed form is very useful. It allows for comparison of the feedback. If something keeps coming up, you know that this is an area where you need to scrutinize your work and make improvements for sure.

This part of the process is more difficult than it sounds... As a public speaker, I have always valued feedback from my audience. However, I have often struggled with getting people to engage in the feedback process. I remember one particular event where I had set up a feedback link with a simple survey for attendees to fill out. Despite my efforts to encourage participation, I found that very few people actually took the time to provide feedback. This lack of engagement left me feeling frustrated and unsure of how to improve my performance. It was a reminder that, as much as I value feedback, it can be challenging to get others to participate in the process.

I used to think that my speeches were flawless and that the audience loved everything I said. But after receiving some constructive criticism, I realized the benefits of changing content based on true feedback. During one of my speeches, a member of the audience approached me afterwards and offered some suggestions on how I could improve. At first, I was in my feelings but I made some changes to my next speech based on their suggestions, and the result was amazing. Not only was the audience more engaged, but I felt more confident and comfortable speaking knowing that I had improved my approach. It was a humbling experience to get feedback from an outsiders perspective and is one golden nugget that ultimately made me a better speaker.

Sampling allows you the opportunity to change your perspective. You have to remember not to be overly attached to any of your thoughts or opinions because they do not always resonate with your target audience. Be open to change and not to just required and say the same thing.

Being a black public speaker can be both empowering and challenging. On one hand, it provides an opportunity to share insights/ perspectives that may be underrepresented in mainstream discourse. It also allows for the possibility of inspiring and motivating others who may identify with my intersectional experiences and struggles. There may also be the risk of facing racism or discrimination, which can make it difficult to focus on delivering a message effectively. Despite these challenges, being a black public speaker can be a powerful way to share important stories and contribute to meaningful conversations.

Remember that people are coming to hear you because they feel that you have something worth hearing. Don't allow feedback to undermine your confidence. Having a good helpful knowledge base does not always translate to a good presentation. Remember also that the physical presentation, are you smiling, is your body rigid, is your tone of voice first, etc., can influence how the information is received so it is important to add that to your feedback form.