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How do you filter feedback that you get from your audience? Whether you’re giving a professional speech, doing a slide show presentation for co-workers, or in a speech contest — feedback is the most important part of preparation. Make no mistake, if you don’t filter properly you’re headed in the wrong direction.

One of the most challenging times for me, as a speaker, came when I was headed for the World Championship of Public Speaking. You may have heard my philosophy about craving feedback. It’s a powerful idea, but it brings about a new challenge. I was overwhelmed with feedback. Which do I incorporate? What do I throw away? How do you decide?

Take a minute to think about that. What’s your filter? First let me clarify the important difference between two types of feedback.

1.) Here’s what I thought / felt while you were speaking.

Everyone is qualified to give you this type of feedback. Everyone. It doesn’t matter what skill level they are, you need to know what people are thinking as you present.

2.) Here’s what you can do to make it better.

This is actually coaching. Most people are not qualified to tell you what to do to improve. They do not fully understand how their changes would affect the thoughts of the audience.

Would you like your presentations to be at a “world class” level? The fastest way to get there is with a coach. If so, this is how I picture the influence of a good coach on a speech.

As we say about our Get Coached to Speak Boot Camp… coaching is the fastest way from good to great. This is what my coach, Mark Brown, did for my speech during our coaching sessions.

Let’s just look at one tiny bit of feedback I got while preparing my winning speech for the Championship. In the “attention-getting” opening, I literally fall on my face, and asked three questions from the floor with long pauses after each. I got the reaction I wanted, but I also received additional feedback I didn’t expect.

Feedback (Type 1) from audience members was: “I felt uncomfortable when you stayed down on the ground and paused so long.” Then they said: “Because we were uncomfortable, you should get up quicker.” (Type 2 Coaching)

Incorporating bad coaching advice can make a good speech flop and fizzle. Had I taken that coaching advice from unqualified coaches, here’s the direct impact it would have had on my presentation:

Let me ask you this… Would you take relationship advice from someone who has been divorced seven times? Would you take financial advice from someone who can barely pay their bills? Why would you take coaching advice from someone who isn’t a qualified coach?

A speech coach friend of mine was working with a highly-paid, high-profile speaker who was very coachable. The client spent hours working with the coach, and then went home and practiced in front of their spouse. The speaker then proceeded to immediately incorporate advice from the spouse. This seemingly-helpful advice can “undo” the hard work of a good coach. Why? Because the feedback was not filtered.

Getting feedback from a spouse, or anyone who offers it is a great thing. They can even give you improvement ideas to consider. Their advice or ideas should then be considered with your coach. Your coach will help you to know what to incorporate and what to discard. There are so many different directions to go. Trust your coach. Ask them, “Why?” The learning you can get alone from just asking why, is exactly the “ah-ha” you probably need to raise the bar on your skill level.

The more you get coached, the more your feedback filter will be honed. You will enhance your own instincts as your skill level increases. A week before the competition, I hit a wall and was overwhelmed with feedback. I got to a point where I just couldn’t take any more. Because my own feedback filter was not fully developed, I leaned on my coaches. I trusted both of them. I didn’t want any well-meaning speakers to cast any doubt on my speech that I might magnify under the pressure of the contest. Since Mark was not available that week, I leaned on David McIlhenny. After every practice speech, I asked everyone to give their verbal and written feedback directly to him. I trusted him. It was one of the best decisions I made.

Because of our own lack of confidence in our speaking, we can sometimes let someone who is passionate about their feedback convince us that they’re right. Just like in the “sales process,” the person with the most energy and conviction usually wins.

Remember there are two types of feedback:

1.) Here’s what I thought / felt while you were speaking.

2.) Here’s what you can do to make it better.

Don’t let your speech flop and fizzle as you’re trying to improve it. When filtering your feedback, be on the lookout for commonalities. This is really important because it’s the key to understanding the thoughts of our audience.

Thought / felt feedback is crucial. It was through much feedback and coaching that I was able to transform my average speech and make it awesome. Consider all feedback you’re given, but talk about it with a qualified coach. Do you want to go from good to great quickly? Who is coaching you to develop your feedback filter?

Stage time,

Darren LaCroix
2001 World Champion of Public Speaking

P.S. Want feedback from a World Champion on your speech? Check out our e-critiques in World Champions’ EDGE! (You won’t believe the value!)

P.P.S. Diagrams were adapted with permission from Alan Weiss, PhD.