World Champion Evaluator evaluating like a champion

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.

Posted under Toastmasters

Just finished reading On Writing, by Stephen King.  Lots of great information that relates to writing stories.  One line that really stood out for me was this:

Certainly I couldn’t keep it on the grounds that it’s good; it should be good, if I’m being paid to do it.  What I am not being paid to do is be self-indulgent.

Too often a speech becomes victim of a good story, a good quote, or a good humor line.  When editing that speech, you need to remove it if it is not contributing to the whole.

Posted under speech writing

The opposite of talking is not listening. The opposite of talking is waiting.

- Fran Leibowitz

Are you waiting or listening?

Posted under Quote

At an Area Evaluation Contest last week, the contestant interview question was to share 1 tip to the audience on evaluations.  There were some excellent tips.  Here are my favorite three which I feel sum up evaluations in Toastmasters:

1. It’s not about the evaluator, it’s about the speaker.
2. Everyone in the room can learn from an evaluation.
3. Learning to listen is the fruit of learning to evaluate.

Posted under evaluations

From Lance Miller:

If I am in front of an audience, that had better be the most importand group of people in my life at that moment.

Posted under General

Three attributes that are essential go great feedback.  Without them you are abusing a “knee-jerk ability to pontificate.”

Posted under evaluations

Interesting video on how photography is not about megapixels, but instead about “moments and stories.”  This applies to speaking.  Engaging with your audience is not about mechanics.  Vocal variety is nice, gestures helpful, and organization useful, but seriously, connecting with your audience is more about telling stories.

No matter what your next speech, see if you can get your message across with stories.

Posted under Public Speaking

Fascinating and humorous post by Scott Adams.

Think about that post when you are preparing your next speech.  How complex is the information you are presenting?  Does your audience need to know the information, or are you trying to impress with your knowledge about the subject?

Posted under Public Speaking

YAPFS (Yet another post from Seth):

The best part of college is that you could become whatever you wanted to become, but most people just do what they think they must.

I feel this way about Toastmasters.  It works really well when inexperienced speakers join a club.  They see how experienced members make eye contact, come out from behind the lecturn, and tell stories.

The problem is that experienced Toastmasters rarely push the bounds of what is possible.  Your speech can be anything.  Take a risk.  Be yourself.

Show us something special

Posted under Uncategorized

Stop focusing on winning.  Focus on blowing the judges socks off.

Posted under evaluations