World Champion Evaluator evaluating like a champion

by Darren LaCroix

How do you know if people truly care about you? Seriously? Is it when they’re nice to you? How do you feel when someone says, “You’ve got something in your teeth.” Do you want to know?

As you read this, I’m in Las Vegas sharing the stage with one of my mentors – Vinnie Favorito – teaching our Humor Boot Camp. Someone asked me earlier week what Vinnie is like as a teacher (they had seen him perform). He was brutal and honest… which I now know meant that he cared about me. He cared about my growth. He took the “true” responsibility of a teacher.

I remember early on… as I received feedback, I was completely open to it because I didn’t know anything about comedy. As I grew, got some confidence, and had a few successes, I actually started taking offense when I was given feedback. I was much less open to the idea. I wanted the pat on the back, but I still needed the growth. I had no idea how much I still needed to learn.

At our last coaching camp, one of the attendees told me they’d heard I was “mean” when giving feedback. Really? As first I got defensive. Then it dawned on me that I’m no different. Receiving feedback is different from each individual. Different people will take the same exact feedback in a different way. What is the “purpose” of the feedback? To show that you’re better? Or to help grow?

Some presenters are surrounded by people who can’t give them a higher level of feedback. They’re the “king” of their club, and they may be content with that. This is probably pretty good for their self-esteem, but it’s not good for their growth. What kind of people are you surrounded by? Are they helping you grow?

When we created the new “Own The Stage” 10-DVD set, we brought in a camera crew to film both days of our Coaching boot camp, and we were focused on capturing a truly world class level of feedback. I don’t know of any other program like this on the market. It’s a very high level of feedback, delivered with brutal honesty for the purpose of caring. We always give our boot campers a “disclaimer,” so they’ll know to expect directness and honesty from us. But we make sure they understand that it’s not to be “mean” …it’s because we care and we want them to grow.

I remember how honest Vinnie was with me… how much it impacted what I did, and how I improved as a result. He was brutal and he was honest, but now I realize just how much he cared. How do you look at feedback from people who have more expertise than you?

No mentor ever “niced” me to the next level.
You?

How do you respond to feedback? Will you become defensive and hurt, or will you look for your growth?

Stage time, Stage time, Stage time,

Darren LaCroix
2001 World Champion of Public Speaking.
Used with permission.

Posted under Guest Article

LaShunda Rundles, the 2008 World Champion of Public Speaking, who I wrote about here and here, is currently in the ICU battling Lupus.  Angie Flinn Key has posted more info on her blog.

Take some time to learn about the effects of Lupus and keep LaShunda in your thoughts.

Posted under Toastmasters

Today while dodging carts and eating tasty hot dog morsels at Costco, I spied… the RoboPen.

Not only does this pen record what you write so you don’t have to type it in later, but it combines the note taking with audio recording.  It associates your written notes with what was said when you took them!  Whoa!!

It is not called the RoboPen of course, but the LiveScribe Pulse Smart Pen.

I write a lot of notes.  I meet people and make notes.  I have to-do lists.  I love paper!  I have piles of notes on my desk that are sitting there waiting for me to do something with them.  A lot of the notes have great ideas on them.  I know that when I go back over them, sometimes months later, I will not remember the context of why I wrote that particular note.

I want this pen!

It also is number 4 on Popular Mechanics Top 10 Most Brilliant Gadgets of the Year!

Seems like you could use it for NANOWRIMO so you could write your novel and not have to transcribe it.

Then, I got to wondering.  What if I could use this in my Toastmaster meetings?  I could make some incredible notes.  I could use it for evaluations.  Instead of trying to write down exactly what the speaker said, I could spend more time listening.  For example, if they did a nice alliteration, I could just write “alliteration”.  Then, when I go through my notes, I could “click” on the word and hear the alliteration as it happened.  Crazy!

In an officers meeting I could use the pen to take notes.  Then, when we are done, I can just upload the notes and the officers can listen to the meeting as they read the notes.

I do wonder if the LiveScribe pen could be used for evil.  What about in an Evaluation Contest?  It seems like it would be an amazing aid.  I don’t recall rules forbidding recording of the model speech.

Posted under Toastmasters