How To Analyze Your Speech Evaluations

Below is a list of evaluations I received at a conference recently. It’s important that you read them *all* so you’ll understand the strong opinion I’m going to share with you.

• I am a non-traditional student and the speaker touched on pressures on time management and leadership. I will be implement on what it takes to be a leader in my daily routine.
• I love his energy and confidence. He felt like a wise preacher who spoke about real life issues.
• He’s coming to our school after hearing him at the conference.
• He was able to bring back the spark in me or the life in being a better leader.
• Jonathan was an amazing and powerful speaker
• He didn’t say much and it took too long for him to get to any point. I felt like I was just trying to be sold his book. There was a lot of patting himself on the back going on.
• Sometimes he speaks a little too quickly, so I felt that I missed some of his message. Otherwise, he is an excellent speaker.
• I have seen him at three different conferences and still love it. New York Institute of Technology
• Yes:Very animated, gets his audience involved.   – US Coast Guard Academy
• He woke me up! Very entertaining!
• “Jonathan’s message is positive and inspiring. Students and advisors will walk away motivated to improve their schools – and themselves!” – Porterville College
• I really enjoyed his energy and the content. -NHTI
• Jonathan Sprinkles was a very engaging speaker. He was full of energy and passion for helping others realize their dreams. Having Jonathan open the conference was a great move by those planning the conference.
• He was very energetic but lacked substance.
• Very dynamic and very entertaining speaker keeps the audience on their toes.
• Mr. Sprinkles was a refreshing burst of energy that started off the conference right.He electrifies the audience and teaches you to never give up, without any hidden messages.  Awesome!  – York College of PA
• Jonathan Sprinkles is a high energy speaker who can really get the audience involved and on their feet. — Norhtland Pioneer College
• Very informative, inspiring with an energetic personality, Jonathan gives you the right encouragement to succeed, providing you follow through.
• All I can say is what a phenomenal speaker!
• Seemed a little phony, but I still enjoyed it
• Jonathan was a inspirational and great speaker. He has a wonderful outlook on life.
• Jonathan’s enthusiasm is infectious. He really connects with his audience.
• Was great in getting his message/point across.
• He seemed egocentric in certain moments
• Okay, but a bit cheesy.
• Jonathan Sprinkles was funny and uplifting! Not to mention a lot of his stories hit close to home.
• no, it seemed like I was being preached to

So, what do you gather from these evaluations? Obviously, a vast majority of the responses were overwhelmingly positive. Actually, the meeting planner said that she was quite pleased because the reviews were “tops” for the conference. Okay, cool. 

Next question: which of these evaluations do you remember MOST? Well, I’ll just speak for myself. The ones that stood out were the criticisms. Isn’t that how it always goes? We ignore the 99 positive comments and over-analyze the one negative thing that was said. I can’t tell you how many times I ran the mental tape deck back to figure out what prompted each negative response. After a while, I was so frustrated, I felt like I may have actually blown my talk! 

That said, I want to give you a strong word of advice:

SPRINKLE OF WISDOM:

Learn how to take all evaluations in stride. The good ones probably aren’t fully accurate, nor are the criticisms.

I don’t give a lot of thought to the evaluations where they circle all fives and they turn it in. Likewise, those who say, “Seemed a little phoney, but I still enjoyed it” (this was my favorite).  You shouldn’t get  too wrapped up in them either. Some people will love you just because you’re on stage. Some people will be judging you more harshly than Simon Cowell, just because you’re on stage. Ninety-nine percent of your audience members will never give a paid talk, and they can’t fathom what it takes move an audience for an hour. It’s easy to sit and nitpick, but until someone has stood in my shoes, I’m not going to smile or cry too much when I read my reviews. 

My psycho-kinetic powers are channeling your big question…”So Jonathan, are you saying you don’t read your evaluations at all? You don’t care what people are saying?”

Here’s what I care about: getting booked and re-booked. I give 110% when I’m on stage. I pray about what I’m going to say and ask to be led in everything I do.

 I DO care about what my meeting planner says because it will determine whether or not I come back.

I DO care about whether I am totally honest and feel that I was obedient to my God.

I DO care if people pay attention during the talk.

I DO care about getting letters, emails and Facebook messages, telling me about the impact my talk had on their lives (I value this above al else).

I DO care about whether the check cashes (because I’m running a business). 

Besides that, I DO NOT care. I have been around for years now, and I’ve done…I don’t know how many talks. I know when I suck and when I don’t. Heck, I TELL YOU about it when I suck! While I do appreciate (and ask for) criticism, I get it when I want it, how I want it and from whom I want it. Before I speak, I ask several people to look for specific things I want each of them to look for individually. 

SPRINKLE OF WISDOM:

“When you ask people to evaluate you, use this line, “Pretend as though you didn’t like me and were really grossed out by speakers. Give me your harshest, most detailed criticism about my _________.”

Bottom line…take it all in stride and stay focused on what really matters and develop a short memory about the rest.

Connection is key,

Jonathan

“The Connection Coach”

*originally published in 2009