You should not use should in your evaluations:

• You should have used your hands more
• You should stop moving around the room
• Your vocal variety should be more expressive
• You should loosen up and enjoy the experience
• I feel you should have read the objectives of the speech

Nobody likes being should on!

The 3 critical aspects of a speech evaluation are:

1. Connect with the speaker.
2. Connect with the audience.
3. Give one specific, actionable, and heartfelt piece of advice that will help both speaker and audience on their path.

Simplified of course, but critical.

Fantastic post from Seth Godin on Interpreting Cristicism.

The useful element of this sort of criticism isn’t that the fact that people in the status quo don’t like your idea. Of course they don’t. The interesting question is: what about the world as it is would have to change for your idea to be important?

When you get feedback on your speech, take a second look at the criticism.  There’s gold in these comments.  Not all mind you.  You will have to sift through them.  But somewhere in the comments will be a glimmering light that can guide you onto better communication. 

Just because you made someone uncomfortable doesn’t mean you stop.  One of the best examples is Darren LaCriox’s winning international speech.  He stayed down “too long.”

What can you do in your next speech to challenge the status quo?  Think ahead to next International Speech Contest.  What can you do to break the mold?

..I’ll ask for it.

From Seth Godin:

When I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it

Does anyone in their right mind actually like criticism?

I do.  Constructive criticism that is.  I have gotten used to getting constructive feedback at Toastmasters that it heightens my perceptions when I don’t receive constructive criticism.  I am sure I physically cringe when I hear “I like it” or “I don’t like it” because they give you no information that you can use.

Today I have been reading a couple of great articles from The Closet Entrepreneur on criticism.  The first article tells you how to give criticism and the second article tells you how receiving criticism can be good for you.

The most important thing to keep in mind when giving constructive criticism is to focus on valid and unbiased feedback.

The articles talk about how to ask for criticism and who to ask. Great reading!