After the presentation comes the next presentation – the key to improvement lies in feedback . After a presentation, almost every speaker tends to review the talk and evaluate it. Did it go as planned? Was I confident enough? Was I able to convince the audience?

We can only answer these questions inadequately for ourselves, because we don't actually know how others perceive us. Unless, of course, we simply ask them…

Why a presentation needs detailed feedback

The presentation is over. It doesn't really matter how it went anymore, because nothing can be changed anyway. This attitude can be fatal. There are good reasons why professional football coaches analyze games with their teams and why teachers encourage their students to correct their own mistakes in tests.

It's about learning and training . It's about knowing your own strengths and weaknesses and working on them.

Very few people are naturally good speakers. For everyone else, practice and working on their strengths and weaknesses are essential. Feedback is the best way to identify these weaknesses and improve.

Why self-perception is not enough: the Johari Window

Sure, we can assess ourselves to some extent, and we should. Filming your own presentation with a camera and tripod and then watching it yourself can be very insightful.

But self-assessment can also mislead us, as it is based solely on our self-perception . And this can be significantly better or significantly more critical than the image others have of us. Therefore, for a realistic assessment, we always need external perceptions as well .

The so-called Johari Window provides insight into this dynamic. The model by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham illustrates the dynamics of self-perception and the perception of others and is based on the idea that communication can be improved by bringing both spheres closer together.

The model is divided into four areas :

1. Public Self: This is the area that both we and others can see. It contains aspects of our personality that are known to ourselves and that are also perceived by others.

2. Blind Spot: This represents aspects of our personality or behavior that we are not aware of ourselves, but which can be recognized by others (e.g., facial expressions or body language). It is the blind spot in our self-perception.

3. Hidden Self: This refers to aspects of our personality that we are aware of but that are not recognized by others. These are things that we consciously hide from others.

4. Unknown Self: This is the area that is unknown to both ourselves and others. It contains potential abilities, emotions, or behaviors that have not yet been discovered.

The Johari Window can be a valuable tool for self-reflection after presentations. After a presentation, we have a subjective perception of how we presented ourselves. This can differ from the audience's actual perception. This is where the concept of the blind spot comes into play.

Be sure to ask for feedback from your audience at this point. Their insights will tell us how you were perceived and help us identify any blind spots . You'll also learn whether your message was conveyed as intended. This feedback will allow you to refine future presentations and speeches.

Overall, the Johari Window enables deeper self-reflection after presentations, as it encourages actively seeking feedback to gain a more realistic and comprehensive view of presentation skills.

Why feedback is important in all industries

Feedback is important regardless of your industry. It plays a vital role in skills development, performance improvement, and fostering personal and professional growth . We've compiled an overview of why feedback is important in various industries:

1. Academic Environment: In the education sector, feedback is a key tool for promoting learning. Teachers give students feedback on their performance to identify strengths and weaknesses. Feedback is also crucial in higher education to deepen students' understanding and support their academic development.

2. Business: In the business world, feedback plays a crucial role in employee development and increasing efficiency. Regular feedback allows employees to review their performance, adjust goals, and improve skills. In management, leaders can use feedback to motivate teams and boost company performance. This also includes presentations and feedback on speakers. Audience feedback in the business world allows for adjustments to customer needs and product development.

3. Healthcare: Not to be underestimated – In healthcare, feedback is essential for improving clinical practice and optimizing patient care. Medical professionals use feedback to refine diagnoses, adjust treatments, and increase patient satisfaction.

4. Technology and Engineering: In technical and engineering professions, feedback is essential for driving innovation and optimizing products. It allows for the identification of design and performance issues and the improvement of technical solutions. Here, too, feedback via PowerPoint presentations can be important for further developing innovations.

5. Customer Service: In the customer service industry, customer feedback is a key indicator of the quality of services offered. Companies use customer feedback to identify problems, make improvements, and increase customer satisfaction.

6. Journalism and Media: In the media industry, feedback from readers, viewers, and listeners is a crucial factor. Journalists and media professionals use feedback to assess the relevance of content, maintain journalistic standards, and engage the audience.

These criteria are relevant for constructive feedback.

It is advisable not to give or request feedback in a general way, but rather to think specifically in appropriate categories. For presentation feedback, the following areas are particularly relevant:

• Content and structure: Was the topic covered completely and understandably? Was there a logical and comprehensible structure?

• Visualization: Was the presentation clear and appealing? Were visualization options used effectively?

• Language: Was the speaker easy to understand? What was their intonation like? Were their word choices and expressions appropriate?

• Body language: What was the effect of facial expressions and gestures? Was there eye contact? What impression did the body language convey?

How to get feedback after the presentation

Feedback doesn't usually happen automatically . Anyone who wants feedback after a presentation should actively seek it out.

Choosing the right way to gather feedback depends on your target audience, presentation goals, and available resources. In today's digital age, in addition to personal feedback gathering, there are a variety of tools and technologies available. Use these skillfully to collect post-presentation feedback efficiently and effectively. These tools offer innovative ways to collect, analyze, and respond to feedback . Here are a few examples:

• The Q&A session after the presentation

The Q&A session following the presentation is the most direct way to gather feedback. Here, both direct and indirect indications of the presentation's success can be gathered. Much can also be inferred indirectly from the audience's reactions .

A lukewarm, polite round of applause and an audience that seems in a hurry to leave the room are hardly a compliment. If there are many questions and doubtful looks, then perhaps the presentation wasn't as clear and insightful as hoped.

For more precise feedback, you can ask the audience directly for some initial comments. If they are people you see frequently (such as colleagues), you can follow up with them later. However, immediate feedback is n't always productive or insightful , as many people are hesitant to voice criticism openly – even if it's constructive.

How to master Q&A sessions after presentations can be found in the article " Q&A after presentations ".

• Feedback form with standardized questions

A feedback form that captures all relevant criteria can be very useful. It can be distributed or made available after a presentation, or sent to participants via email . Because a feedback form can be filled out anonymously and at one's leisure, it is usually more productive than directly requested feedback.

Traditional email surveys remain an effective way to gather detailed feedback. Tools like Mailchimp or Sendinblue allow you to create and send engaging survey emails. Templates for evaluation forms are readily available online. Good, clear formats can be found, for example, here or at this link .

They are practical and offer good suggestions. Of course, a feedback form can also be designed independently. Feel free to use more creative and open-ended language. (e.g., "What three things do you think would have improved the presentation?")

• Send an online survey to the participants

A third way to request feedback is through an online survey. This is created using appropriate tools and made accessible to participants via a link. The structure is usually similar to a traditional feedback form. Experience has shown that the biggest drawback here is that the feedback opportunity is often only used by a small number of people.

Possible Survey tools include SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, and Typeform. These allow you to create and send customized surveys. Using pre-made templates or individually designed questions, you can specifically ask for opinions, ratings, and suggestions.

Another example of an online feedback platform is ProvenExpert. Through this platform, you can send your participants a survey asking them to rate you with stars and a personal review. Of course, here too, the more personal and close your relationship with your customers, the more likely you are to receive a review.

Here you can find my ProvenExpert profile with numerous reviews I have collected over the past few years for my presentations and seminars: My ProvenExpert profile .

• Video feedback platforms

A slightly more specialized, but also possible, approach: platforms like VidGrid or Vosaic allow you to record your presentations and ask the audience for targeted video feedback. This method not only offers verbal comments, but also makes it possible to capture the body language and emotions of those providing feedback .

Similar to online surveys, a disadvantage is that this option is rarely used to provide feedback.

• Feedback apps

Feedback apps like Feedbackly, Emplify, or 15Five offer comprehensive options for collecting feedback. They enable continuous feedback, sentiment analysis, and team communication . For example, you can link a QR code within your presentation to directly provide access to the feedback option.

• Social media surveys

Social media offers an easy way to gather feedback from a wider audience . Platforms like Twitter or Instagram allow surveys or polls to obtain quick feedback (see next subsection).

• Real-time audience interaction

Platforms like Mentimeter and Slido allow you to engage the audience in the presentation in real time. Participants can answer questions, share their opinions, and take polls . This fosters engagement and provides valuable insights.

Using social media for feedback

These days, it's easy to reach people through social media. Use social media platforms effectively to gather feedback. They offer an efficient way to collect feedback from a wider audience and gain valuable insights into how your presentations are perceived.

Furthermore, using social media offers the advantage of allowing you to gather opinions from people in different regions and backgrounds . This way, you receive feedback from a broad target group.

Here are some ways you can use social media platforms for feedback:

1. Surveys and polls: Social media allows you to create surveys and polls to gather targeted feedback on specific aspects of your presentation. You can ask questions that focus on the content, structure, or style of presentation. By engaging your followers, you receive quick and easily understandable feedback.

2. Comments and Discussions: After sharing your presentation on social media platforms, you can encourage comments and discussions about your content. Readers can share their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions, enabling open feedback interaction. Gathering diverse perspectives can help you understand different viewpoints and identify areas for improvement.

3. Direct Messages: Some platforms allow users to send you direct messages. This gives you the opportunity to receive personal feedback that may not be shared publicly. These direct conversations can offer detailed insights and foster open exchange.

4. Story Features: Platforms like Instagram and Facebook offer story features where you can ask short polls or questions. This allows you to get real-time feedback and increase the interactivity of your followers.

Handling feedback during presentations

Lecture reviews are generally similar to product reviews in large online shops. There are some effusive 5-star reviews whose authenticity one might question, and some 1-star reviews that suggest the buyer was simply too incompetent for the product.

In between, there is usually a larger number of mixed reviews that mention advantages and disadvantages and therefore generally prove to be the most helpful. Such a distribution often occurs with feedback for presentations as well, and in principle, it can be handled in the same way. What matters is the overall picture and the relevant feedback.

The following tips should also be considered when dealing with feedback:

• All feedback is welcome: Every listener has the right to their opinion. It should be gratefully received, regardless of its content or who expresses it – and it shouldn't matter whether the criticism comes from the boss or the trainee.

• No feedback on feedback: Especially with direct, critical feedback, it's easy to feel tempted to argue, defend, or justify oneself. However, it's better to simply accept what was said as an opinion, regardless of whether it's perceived as justified or not.

• Feedback is not binding: Speakers also have a right to their opinion. Not everything expressed in feedback has to be implemented. Ultimately, you decide what you want to change or implement.

Feedback is not a one-way street.

Those who appreciate helpful feedback should also be able to respond appropriately when asked for feedback themselves. For feedback to be truly useful and helpful, it should meet the following criteria:

• Be as specific as possible: Those asking for feedback don't just want praise and criticism, but concrete details. For example, instead of "The presentation was entertaining," say "The fact that the individual factors were explained with examples made the presentation entertaining."

• Use "I" statements: When giving feedback, one can only ever speak for oneself. Therefore, it should be formulated in the first person and not with "one" or "you".

• Suggestions for improvement: Constructive feedback should ideally be phrased positively and include ideas for improvement. For example, instead of "You talk a mile a minute," say something like, "It would have been easier for me to follow the presentation if you had spoken more slowly and paused more often."

• Also give positive feedback: It's often forgotten that criticism doesn't have to be negative. Learning what went down well in a presentation can be just as important for presenters.

• Describe, don't judge: Feedback should be a description of your own perception. Judgments or accusations are inappropriate. For example, instead of "Your presentation was bad because you only read from a script," say "Because you read so much, I lacked connection with the audience."

No feedback without respect

Good feedback is largely based on mutual respect . Both those giving and receiving feedback should always keep this in mind. It should be understood as a source of guidance and support , not as a means of judgment. When given and received correctly, it can be extremely useful.

Moreover, constructive feedback and even criticism can convey more recognition and respect than false praise. The philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell was likely aware of this when he formulated:

Rejoice more in intelligent disagreement than in passive agreement; for if intelligence is worth as much as it should be to you, then there is a deeper agreement in disagreement.

Bertrand Russell

Conclusion: Skillfully gather and implement feedback

To make your presentations even more professional and better tailor the content to your target audience, you shouldn't miss the opportunity to gather feedback. Consider which method of obtaining feedback works best for you and try it out!

Do you have any questions about this article? Please feel free to contact us by email at info@presentationload.de . We're happy to help!

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