How to Turn Feedback into Action with Plus (+), Minus (-), Exclamation (!), Question (?)
Tools to improve your team gatherings
As facilitators, we often wonder: How do we know if participants are truly engaged? What's working well, and what needs immediate adjustment?
The traditional end-of-event evaluation often comes too late to help current participants, and waiting until the end of an event usually means that we miss crucial opportunities for real-time improvement.
The Plus(+), Minus(-), Exclamation(!), Question(?) Feedback Technique is one that I adapted from a strategy I learned while studying to be a high school teacher. As an educator, I used it to figure out how students were responding to texts. However, at some point, I realized that this simple technique would be useful to see how people respond to, well… everything.
The +, -, !, ? Feedback Technique prompts offer a simple, yet extremely effective way to collect actionable insights during or immediately after meetings, workshops, and multi-day events – which allows us to make meaningful adjustments while they still matter. I even used this technique when I led civil rights tours to help me respond to participants’ questions and requests every morning and make day-to-day adjustments to how we traveled together.
Why Real-Time Feedback Matters
Regardless of what type of event we’re facilitating, participant experience can vary dramatically based on factors we might not immediately notice. One person might be struggling to connect with the content, while others might be craving deeper discussion. The group dynamics might shift after someone enters the room. Even external factors we can’t control might impact both attention spans and engagement.
Real-time feedback allows us to:
Address issues before they compound
Amplify what's working exceptionally well
Respond to emerging questions and interests
Show participants that their voices are both heard and valued
Create a collaborative learning environment
We often refer to any space cultivated for a group to experience together as a “container.” Given the way +, -, !, ? Feedback Technique values participant voice, elevates needs, and increases psychological safety, it exists as an elegant and effective way to create a container that shares power.
The +, -, !, ? Technique at a Glance
This simple method for capturing feedback in real-time uses four symbols that participants can quickly understand and apply:
+ (Plus) - What's working well? What aspects of today have been particularly valuable, engaging, or meaningful? [This can help us identify strengths to maintain and build upon.]
- (Minus) - What could be improved? Where have you felt lost, bored, or disconnected? What barriers prevented your full participation? [These insights can guide immediate adjustments.]
! (Exclamation) - What surprised you? What are your “a-ha” moments? What new insights or perspectives have emerged? What’s challenged your thinking? [These responses often reveal the most powerful learning moments.]
? (Question) - What questions do you have, big or small? What would you like to explore further? What remains unclear? [These questions can drive next-day discussions and content adjustments.]
Need a copy to guide your feedback process while facilitating?
Color and black and white versions
Practical Implementation
The Setup: At the end of each day or session, I distribute index cards and explain the four symbols using a slide or poster where I’ve written the symbols and their meanings. I emphasize that responses are anonymous – unless participants want follow-up (in which case, they can include their name). I have a designated collection box or area away from where I’m standing, in order to protect anonymity.
The Collection: I give participants 5-10 minutes to reflect and write. The informality of index cards encourages brief, honest responses rather than lengthy, overthought feedback.
The Processing: I review the index cards on the same day of the event. I’m looking for patterns and themes. (Usually, I can’t wait until the end of the day, so I read them as soon as I’m alone.) In order to identify trends, I group or combine similar responses. I also anonymize specific details so that I can honor individual contributions without calling anyone out by name.
The Follow-Up: If I’m meeting with the group again, I start the next morning by sharing what I heard – both the praise and the concerns. Most importantly, I announce the specific changes I’m making based on the input I received. I also address questions that emerged and invite discussion on the themes that surfaced. I make sure I’ve set time aside for this – as well as other opportunities to share reflections from our previous time together. If I’m not meeting with the group again, I share the feedback with the group’s coordinator so they have information to build on when they follow-up.
Why It Matters
The +, -, !, ? Feedback Technique can transform the facilitator-participant dynamic from one-way delivery to collaborative improvement. When people see their feedback implemented, their engagement deepens. This leads to richer discussions and even more thoughtful feedback in the future.
For multi-day events, this creates a powerful feedback loop: Participants become invested in the event's success, because they know their voices help directly shape the experience. A morning debrief becomes a community-building moment where everyone can see how their collective input influences the experience.
Image ID: Handwritten feedback notes on lined paper beside a red pen, using plus, minus, exclamation, and question mark symbols to note positives, challenges, insights, and questions.
Beyond ‘Event Feedback Cards’
Standard ‘event feedback cards’ that request participant feedback are often limited and sometimes useless. Do we implement requested changes? Do past and future participants feel seen, heard, and valued?
The beauty of the +, -, !, ? Feedback Technique is that it’s a system designed to extend beyond data collection. It actively demonstrates respect for participant experience, models responsive leadership, and creates psychological safety.
When people know they can influence their learning environment, they become more engaged and honest contributors.
Whether we're guiding people through skills-based workshops, facilitating difficult conversations, or touring historical sites, the +, -, !, ? Feedback Technique ensures we’re not just delivering content – we’re creating adaptive, responsive experiences that truly serve participants' needs.
TRY IT: Implement the +, -, !, ? Feedback Technique at your next meeting or workshop. Start with an explanation of how it works, and then ask participants throughout, "What about this workshop is working well for you? Do you have questions? Is there anything you need to understand better or differently?"
The insights you gain and the engagement you build might surprise you.
Image ID: Handwritten feedback notes on lined paper beside a yellow pencil, listing reflections under plus, minus, exclamation, and question mark symbols.