Feedback is so useful to improve your presentation skills, as long as it is meaningful. Whether it be through verbal or physical feedback both can help to improve your skills overall. Proper feedback can reinforce what you are doing well, keep goal-directed behavior on track, and increase abilities to detect and remedy errors on your own.
How to give good feedback
Sometimes it’s difficult to provide good feedback that is valuable to the presenter. Here are some tips!
1) Identify strengths and then offer areas for potential improvement.
2) Describe what you have observed. Make it clear that it is your own perspective/response that you are offering.
3) Be specific. If possible, give examples.
4) Suggest action items or changes rather than telling the speaker what to do. Use words like “maybe” or phrase your suggestion as a question. Make sure the suggested changes are actually attainable for the speaker.
5) Limit your comments. What did the speaker do really well? What changes could make the biggest improvement? Focus on these two things so that your feedback is clear and concise.
How to receive feedback
Try your best to avoid taking feedback personally. Feedback helps you to further develop your skills, so listen to the feedback given, and try not to interrupt. Practice actively hearing what they are saying, not what you want or think they are saying. You can absorb more feedback if you focus on listening and understanding instead of being defensive and concentrating on your response.
Be mindful of your verbal and physical responses. Body language can speak volumes. If your words are not corresponding with your body language the message is conflicting. Try not to look distracted or bored, this comes across as if you are putting up barriers. This also sends a very negative message. Remain positive and open to the feedback and acknowledge the response.
Don’t get stuck in your own way and open up to others’ opinions. There is always more than one way of doing things so be open-minded to other points of view, you may just learn something that helps you in the long run.
Take your time and dissect the answer to fully understand the feedback. Listen actively by repeating key points for clarification if needed. Now it is time to reflect and decide what your next step is. After decoding the feedback that was received the response is your choice. If you do not agree with the feedback you have every right to receive feedback from another party.
Feedback with Presentii
Opposite to traditional ways of collecting feedback like writing down notes or providing post-presentation surveys, Presentii tracks real-time feedback from attendees so you don’t have to. Presentii captures an audio recording throughout your presentation and overlays moment-by-moment audience interest levels with comments. Start your subscription today for as little as 12$ a month!