Rock It!
When evaluating a speaker, look for what the speaker did well and what he can do to improve. Take a look at your Competent Communicator manual and you’ll find the skills you should look for. Remember how each speech had a different focal point, something you would focus on as you crafted and gave your speech? #5 focuses on Body Language; #6 focuses on Vocal Variety. Keep these in mind as you evaluate your speaker.
But what if you’re evaluating the best speaker in your Toastmasters club? You know, the one that never says an ‘um’ even in casual conversation. The one that gives presentations for a living. The one that, let’s be honest here, is a bit intimidating to evaluate. What then?
The key to giving a rockin’ evaluation is to evaluate the speaker as if you were an audience member. (Which you are)! Even if you’re a newer Toastmaster, you can give valuable feedback when you share what resonated with you or what the speaker could have done differently to make their speech more powerful.
According to 2007 World Champion of Public Speaking finalist, Bryant Pergerson, “Giving a great speech evaluation is one of the most important jobs in a Toastmasters meeting. As you learn to give more purposeful evaluations, your fellow club members will become more effective speakers and evaluators.” And, when they become better, they’ll evaluate you and you’ll become better. That’s what Toastmasters is all about.
To really ROCK your evaluation, you must:
Remember to give value
Organize it like a speech
Conclude with encouragement
Keep it real
Before you evaluate another speaker, take a moment to visit Bryant’s website and watch his video, “4 Secrets of Great Evaluations.”
Rock on,
Jean
2010 District 37 Evaluation Champion
