Feedback is the second step in everything we do at Talkmasters. You speak, then someone tells you what they saw. Done well, it is the fastest way to improve. Done badly, it makes people stop trying.
Here is a simple way to get it right.
Start with what worked
Name one specific thing the speaker did well. "Good speech" is not feedback. "Your opening question made me curious" is. Being specific shows that you were listening.
Pick one thing to change
A speaker who hears six suggestions remembers none of them. Choose the single change that would make the biggest difference, and explain how to do it.
- Say what you noticed: "You looked at the floor during the middle section."
- Say what it did: "I lost the thread for a moment."
- Say what to try: "Next time, look at one person per sentence."
Feedback isn't criticism. It's a shortcut to improvement.
Talk about the speech, not the person
"The ending felt rushed" is about the speech. "You always rush" is about the person. The first one helps. The second one hurts.
End with encouragement
Finish by telling the speaker what you are looking forward to in their next speech. They should sit down wanting to speak again.
