You’ll never have to wonder if your presentation truly landed again. In this QuickBites episode, Peter George gives you a simple, two-part question you can ask immediately after any talk to find out whether the praise you’re receiving is genuine — and more importantly, what specifically made your presentation resonate with that listener.
It takes just seconds to ask, costs you nothing, and gives you the kind of specific, actionable feedback that will make every future presentation stronger. Try it after your next talk and see what you learn.
Welcome to QuickBites — public speaking tips and techniques you can digest in five minutes or less.
After you’ve delivered a presentation, don’t you love when people come up and say, “Great job!”? It feels good. But one evening, after a talk I knew was far from my best, people still said it. That got me thinking: why are people telling me a talk is great even when I know it isn’t? The answer is simple — they were being polite. If you’ve spoken enough, the same has probably happened to you.
Polite Praise vs. Meaningful Feedback
So how can you tell the difference between a polite “great job” and a meaningful one? You could try to gauge the level of enthusiasm in someone’s voice. But there’s a better way — one that not only confirms whether the praise is sincere, but also tells you why your presentation resonated.
The Question to Ask After Every Talk
When someone says “Great job!” or “Awesome talk!” — anything indicating they appreciated your efforts — respond with something like:
“Thank you! I appreciate your kind words. What in particular resonated with you most?”
Or: “What was your greatest takeaway?”
Their answers will tell you everything you need to know.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let’s make it happen. I’ll see you next time.
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