Passion can blind us to improvement as we may believe the passion will solve the challenges. Obtaining feedback from internally and externally as well as self-assessing can be key to improving events and programming. Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. There is always room to improve in each area. Of an event…get fresh insight from new people, cycle team members, etc. It’s not always about getting bigger as you can outpace your capacity if you aren’t careful. It’s about better - improve, simplify, expand, adjust, fine tune, etc.

One of the quickest ways to generate feedback in a live virtual community setting is to ask the audience what their main take-away is (or a different relevant question) and see what people are picking up on in their reflections back to you. This gives you real-time feedback about the content you're discussing and how it's resonating with the community. Doing this regularly creates a culture of continuous growth as members understand that asking for reflections is a piece of the community fabric.

After each event, it’s important to take the time to gather input from attendees, volunteers, and anyone involved. This could be through quick surveys, group chats, or even casual conversations—whatever feels natural and helps people share their thoughts. The more creative the more people engage. I remember using a “you said, we did box” and because we were clear and transparent with what we were going to do with their answers we had so many people give us recommendations and feedback which was a great insight for the team. Then we looked for patterns and figured out what worked well and what could be better for next time.

One data set we analyzed was the level of recurring attendance from year to year. For those who had attended consistently an annual event, we reached out to obtain feedback on what worked, why they continued to support the event and what they wanted to see next year. We identified valuable insights!

I think one way to leverage feedback from events is to share with current or potiential collaborators to keep them in the loop about what the community is saying. As it is unlikely that events are hosted and/or sponsored by single entities, there will be feedback that may be better interpreted and utilized by external actors who can better address it with their own specialized expertise. Collecting and organizing feedback into a listing of communicable, valuable information would be a beneficial operation for any organization. Strategy could involve linking specific components of the feedback with organizations better equipped to implement service relavant to the feedback.

Outreach success and growth can occur when you make good use of feedback in a timely and meaningful way. Create a small team of staff members, volunteers and or community partners to help you analyze, address and use the feedback. Focus on creating relevant and timely actions and updates to support continuous growth year round. Identify any specific themes from the feedback that may indicate areas of improvement that should be addressed right away. Next, if possible make sure you acknowledge and thank those that gave feedback and let them know when their feedback will be addressed. In addition, provide updates regarding ways their feedback has been or will be used to make specific improvements. Repeat the process and add more voices.

Gather Feedback: Use surveys, comment cards, and direct conversations to collect participant insights. Analyze Trends: Identify recurring themes, successes, and areas for improvement. Engage the Community: Host follow-up discussions to validate feedback and gather deeper input. Track Metrics: Monitor participation rates, satisfaction scores, and impact indicators. Iterate Programs: Use insights to refine event design, messaging, and delivery methods. Show Appreciation: Acknowledge feedback publicly to strengthen trust and engagement. Share Progress: Communicate how feedback has driven changes to encourage ongoing input. This process fosters a cycle of improvement and deeper community connection.

In my experience, I’ve always valued feedback. Nobody is perfect, and mistakes can happen, but there’s a fine line between doing something passionately and doing it for the sake of doing it. If you fall into the latter, there’s a long way to go. If you’re in the former, you’re on the right track. When I receive feedback, I address it thoughtfully. If it’s valid, I make it a point to apologize and rectify the situation. If it’s not, I ensure there’s clarity and help others understand what could have been handled differently. Feedback, after all, is subjective. At the end of the day, even if you give your 100%, someone might still find fault. Don’t overthink it—own your mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving forward.

The benefit of feedback is the ability to become aware of what the community needs are. Once known, processes and procedures may then be implemented to ensure the community’s needs are met.

Collect feedback systematically through surveys, interviews, and social listening during and after events. Analyze responses to identify trends, unmet needs, and areas for improvement. Share findings transparently with your team to drive targeted action. Experiment with new initiatives based on insights and measure their impact. Continuously engage your audience by incorporating their suggestions, reinforcing trust, and fostering deeper connections.