by Ed Barks

“Where did I put my keys?” How many times has each of us forgotten that vital piece of information?

Unfortunately, many a speaker loses track of an important presentation key: Assessing Feedback – the third and most oft-neglected part of “The Three Keys to Great Presentations.”

I find these three keys invaluable when leading presentation skills training workshops. Most speakers seem to intuitively understand the importance of the first two keys – Preparation and Performance. Sadly, Assessing Feedback is often left in the dust.

The Secret to Rapid Improvement
Assessing feedback is crucial to continually measuring performance. How can you possibly improve unless you undertake a conscious strategy to monitor how you did?

Everyone’s tried and true method of assessment is the evaluation form. Sadly, too many of these forms are all but useless. Forms that rank a series of questions on a scale from 1 to 5 provide little of use. How can you improve when you receive only a pointless numerical grade? When I decide to use evaluation forms, I ask open-ended questions and leave plenty of room for comments. And I tell my audience that I will read every word they write.

Properly used, evaluation forms can provide useful feedback. I certainly don’t want to belittle the value of this oldie-but-goodie technique. But if your measurement begins and ends with a one-page form, you are doing a disservice to all involved.

Listen to your Audience
Another way you can gauge whether you are on the mark sounds obvious. Unfortunately, a lot of speakers fail to take the cue. While you are speaking, pay strict attention to your audience’s reaction. Don’t get so wrapped up in what you are saying that you ignore the real time nonverbal signs emitted by the crowd.

Are they paying attention, nodding their heads and smiling and making eye contact, for example? Or are they shifting in their seats, reading the newspaper, or, worse yet, walking out of the room? Also pay attention to what their questions tell you. Do they focus on your message, indicating they are hearing what you have to say? Or are their inquiries all over the map? Tuning in to these signals helps you improve your next presentation.

To further zero in on how you performed, mingle with your audience after your presentation. If I am part of a program, I always try to stay around until at least the next break. Not only does it demonstrate that I care enough about their issue, it also gives me an opportunity to gently probe for feedback on how I did.

How’m I doin'?
Here’s another strategy that is often ignored: Call the conference organizer a few days after your presentation and ask some open-ended questions about how you did. For example, had there been more time, what areas would they like to have seen you cover?

What’s the bottom line? You know you’ve hit the jackpot when you are invited back to speak at the organization’s next meeting.

Yes, assessing feedback is vital. Once you have the information in hand, you will find the key to continual improvement as a speaker. As you practice for future engagements, remember to fold in the treasure trove of feedback you have gained from the methods outlined above.

When it comes time for your next presentation, you won’t have to ask, “Where did I put my keys?”

© Edward J. Barks 2012

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Ed Barks leads media training workshops for executives who want to enhance their reputations, and for organizations that want to achieve their long-term business goals. He also speaks before association and corporate meetings to help employees and members sharpen their communications edge. He is the author of The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations and President of Barks Communications. Learn more at www.barkscomm.com. Contact Ed at (540) 955-0600 or via e-mail.

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