Speech 2 and 3 in an 8 day period, complete. #2 was “Impromptu Speaking” from the Specialty Speeches manual. Speech #3 was “The Roast” from Special Occasions. Education #1 – Evaluate to Motivate from The Successful Club Series.

Purpose

This presentation, part of Toastmasters International’s Successful Club Series, will provide information on giving effective speech evaluations that will benefit the speaker, as well as improving our club as a whole. The more effective we are at evaluating each other, the more we profit from the experience – even if we are not actually in the role of evaluator. While evaluators have the power to influence, they should never been given total credit or responsibility for a speaker’s future endeavours; they should be looked upon as a catalyst for change.

Benefits of Effective Evaluations

• Providing immediate feedback
• Offering methods for improvement
• Building and maintaining self-esteem

The “Tell and Sell” Approach

• Most common approach used in Toastmasters
• Evaluator does the speaking, while the speaker listens
• Main benefit is efficiency as they move smoothly and avoid digressing
• Benefit is that the speaker is able to give the evaluator their full attention
• Works best when the evaluator has more experience than the speaker

How to Evaluate Effectively

• Show that you are interested
  • Both positive aspects and challenges should be explored
  • Do not attempt to shift focus from speaker
• Consider the speaker’s objectives
  • Manual objectives: The book and the project #
  • Personal objectives: Filler words, other idioms
• Personalize your language
  • Use words such as “I believe” or “I suggest” rather than “You didn’t…”
  • Use the senses in evaluating – what you saw, heard, felt…
• Evaluate the speech, not the person
  • What the speaker *does*, not what they are
• Avoid whitewash
  • Know the speaker to know how critical is acceptable/beneficial
• Promote self esteem
  • “Sandwich” the criticism between praise