World Champion Evaluator evaluating like a champion

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In thinking about Scott Adams discussion of active listening, I wanted to apply it to table topics.

How often do we, as Table Topics Masters, ask a question, and not care about the answer?  I think it is most of the time.  I know I have been guilty of it.  Revelling in the genius of my questions, rather than caring about the answer.

I think we could make a huge difference in the quality of table topics if we first and foremost care about the answer we receive.  When we care about that answer, we will ask a different question.  Illiciting a story that engages the audience should be the goal.

Think about this the next time you are Table Topics Master and let me know how it goes.

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Excellent post from Scott Adams today that talks about active listening:

Prior to the Dale Carnegie course I believed that conversation was a process by which I could demonstrate my cleverness, complain about what was bugging me, and argue with people in order to teach them how dumb they were. To me, listening was the same thing as being bored.  I figured it was the other person’s responsibility to find some entertainment in the conversation. That wasn’t my job. Yes, I was that asshole. But I didn’t know it. The good news is that once I learned the rules of conversation, I was socially reborn. It turns out that active listening is more fun than talking, although sometimes you need to guide the conversation toward common interests.

Where else can you learn about and practice active listening than at Toastmasters?

Update:

Scott has an additional post on active listening.  I find it useful to think of it this way.  If you talk, you only learn what you are saying.  If you listen, you learn what someone else is saying.

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Inspired by Liza, who posted her experience here:

http://toastmaster-liza.blogspot.com/2010/05/welcome-to-my-toastmasters-blog.html

If you have posted your Toastmasters contest experience on your blog, please post a link in the comments.

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Thought provoking post from Seth today:

Perhaps one criticism in a hundred is actually a useful and generous contribution in your quest to reorganize things for the better.

Elevate your evaluations to really give the recipient the ammunition they need to make a difference.

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How do you choose a model speaker for your Toastmaster Evaluation Contests?

There are many considerations.  You need to take into account the needs of the model speaker, and the needs of the evaluators.

Model Speaker Needs…

• to have thick skin.  This is especially true at lower levels of the contest where evaluators may not choose their words as well as they might.
• to be able to benefit from receiving feedback.  This means that you are providing value to the model speaker.
• to have given a few speeches at the club level.  This relates to them being able to receive the feedback.
• to not use notes if at all possible.  Notes become something that must be talked about and are so obvious that any evaluator can see it.
• to record their speech and the evaluators (getting permission) as they feedback is going to come thick and fast.
• to give a 5-7 minute speech (it is in the rules).

Evaluators Need…

• a model speaker that gives them a challenge.  Especially at higher levels, experienced speakers really separate the good evaluators from the great ones.
• a model speaker that is not too challenging.  At club and area, it is helpful to have a speaker that is not too seasoned.  The judges are looking for more than “I couldn’t find anything to improve.”
• a model speaker that has prepared a speech and has practiced it.  The evaluator can then focus on really helping that model speaker improve their communication skills.

 A little thought put into picking a model speaker will pay off when you have a fantastic learning opportunity for everyone at the contest.

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We are now in the throes of contest season at Toastmasters.  My first recommendation when entering the evaluation contest is to get a copy of the judging criteria and study it.  How can you be expected to meet the judges expectations if you don’t know what they are?

The second recommendation I make is to check out Andrew Dlugan’s excellent series on speech evaluations.  He even gives pointers on winning the evaluation contest.

Now go and give the contests your best shot!

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Yet another thought provoking post by Seth Godin.  This time the post refers to using price as a competetive advantage.  It was the closing line that hit me though…

The scalable, profitable strategy is to change the game, not to become the most average.

If you want to become the best speaker you can be, you need to stop doing what everyone else does.  A New Year is fast approaching.  Use 2010 as an opportunity to redefine yourself.  Here are some ideas:

1. Compete in all the Toastmasters contests.  Yes, even Table Topics.
2. Prepare.  Prepare your speech.  Prepare for the contests.  Talk to the speaker before the meeting.
3. Join an advanced club.  Start a new club that pushes the envelope.
4. Present outside your club.  At a job group, Kiwana’s, Rotary, etc.
5. Push the limits of all of the Toastmaster roles.  Act out the Quote of the Day, do a backwards meeting, etc.

You left your comfort zone when you joined Toastmasters.  You regained it by being a member for a year or two.  Now is the time to push the envelope again.  Join me, and have fun!

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85 today and still going strong!

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Check out this short interview with Rory Vaden on Oprah.com.

Very interesting discussion.  To win the World Championship of Public Speaking, you only need to create a takeaway message, have a universal theme, have something that the audience can use and implement, make the audience laugh, smile, and think.  That’s all.  Do that, and you will have a great shot at beating out 35,000 other contestants.

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