World Champion Evaluator evaluating like a champion

Question 7: What is your check-list for listening to a speech and preparing an evaluation?

I actually don’t have a formal check-list for listening to a speech or for preparing an evaluation.  I start with a blank piece of paper and start writing as the speech unfolds.

I know that some people prepare the piece of paper before the speech begins.  Some people split it vertically into 2 sections, 1 for strengths and 1 for weaknesses.  Others split horizontally into 3 sections, 1 for beginning, 1 for body, and 1 for conclusion.  I also know that some people split the piece of paper into areas of a speech that they are going to look at such as vocal variety, gestures, etc.

I think that using a prepared format or a check-list can be very helpful for beginning evaluators.  It has the advantage of providing a framework.  It unfortunately has the disadvantage of boxing the evaluator in.  I would be worried that I miss something by focusing less on the speech and more on my logistics.  It really comes down to whether the evaluation is more about you as the evaluator or the speaker.

If you do use a format or a check-list, vary it so you don’t get comfortable with it.  Step out of your boundaries and you will grow.

Posted under Toastmasters

Question 6: What is whitewashing and how can it be avoided?

I previously talked about whitewashing here.  The definition from Dictionary.com:

anything, as deceptive words or actions, used to cover up or gloss over faults, errors, or wrongdoings, or absolve a wrongdoer from blame.

As I have pointed out previously, there really is no such thing as a perfect speech.  If we assume that to be true, then an evaluation that doesn’t suggest improvement is a whitewash.

I have noticed an increase in whitewash evaluations.  Typically it is a result of a Toastmaster giving an evaluation to a more experienced Toastmaster.  It can be daunting to evaluate someone very good at speaking.  But, by not giving honest areas for improvement, you are short changing the speaker.

One way to avoid whitewashing is to ask the speaker ahead of time for areas to concentrate on in the evaluation.  We are our own toughest critics, so this may give areas where the speaker is weak.  Another question to ask is what the speakers goals are for the speech and address whether they met those goals.  Often speakers will meet some but not all goals, so again this is an area that can be fruitful.

The bottom line though is that you need to treat evaluations as a gift to the speaker.  They really want to know how to improve.  It is one of the main reasons that Toastmasters is so useful.

Posted under Toastmasters

There have been a number of critiques of Steve Jobs’ presentations.  He is indeed a master presenter.  The critiques focus on how to emulate his style.

If you dig a little deeper, these critiques also provide information to help an evaluator deliver more powerful evaluations.

I will use this article by Carmine Gallo as an illustration.

When a speaker uses meaningless words such as “maybe”, “I think”, “well, you know”, “kinda”, etc. – point these out to the speaker.  Note what aspect of the speech the speaker talked about when they used these words and suggest that they might need more conviction around those areas.  Suggest words to use such as “awesome”, “incredible”, “exciting”, etc.

If you become lost in the speech you are evaluating, don’t just tell the speaker you were confused.  Instead, suggest some ways they can add structure to the speech.  There’s an excellent example in Carmine’s article.

See if the speaker is illustrating a problem and selling the solution.  Even an informative speech can illustrate the price of ignorance and the benefit of knowledge.

Lastly, Carmine lists 4 (ironically) ways to paint a picture in a speech:

1. Stick to the rule of three
2. Use personal stories
3. Keep it visual
4. Rehearse

Each of these ways of painting a picture can be used as the basis of an evaluation.  These ways take a speech and make it 3-dimensional.  A speech that comes alive will be one that will be remembered.  Highlight this advantage to your speaker and then suggest some concrete ways they can paint their picture.

Look deeper into the articles discussing speaking or presentations skills.  Don’t assume that they are just for people wanting to be the next head of Apple Inc.  A lot of effort went into these articles.  Spend some time looking over them to see what you can learn.

Posted under Public Speaking, Toastmasters

Pit your evaluation skills against the rest of the universe in the evaluation challenge!

Posted under Evaluation Challenge

When you give an evaluation for a speech, do you find yourself struggling with just how to do it?  Maybe:

• The content didn’t resonate with you.
• The delivery was not effective.
• You don’t agree with information presented.
• The speaker didn’t seem prepared.
• The speaker is new and has much to work on.

There are many more reasons a speech may be hard to evaluate.  Each of these reasons can be overcome with a change in focus.  Note the focus in the following:

• I didn’t  like the content.
• The delivery didn’t work for me.
• I didn’t agree with the information.
• I thought the preparation was inadequate.
• I recognize that the speaker is new and has many areas to address.

The focus is clearly on the evaluator.  Lots of “I” statements.  Typically “I” statements are great.  In this case though, the evaluator is paralyzed by focusing on themselves.  An evaluation is primarily for the benefit of the speaker.  The evaluator needs to spend some time in the shoes of the speaker.  Next time you are an evaluator, challenge yourself to look at the speech from the speakers point of view:

• You clearly know a lot about this topic.  It can be a challenge to convey this to a lay-audience.
• What an interesting delivery style you chose.  I will see if I can incorporate it into one of my future speeches.
• The information you presented was a challenge for me.  I wonder whether there is another side you could present to balance the argument.
• I liked your raw approach to this speech.  Now that you have presented it, consider the following suggestions for some ways to polish it…
• This is an exciting time in your speaking progression.  There are so many roads to you can take.  I am going to highlight 3 roads you can take today to take the next step…

Assume that the speaker intended everything they did.  The speaker knows if they didn’t prepare fully or that they didn’t do as well as they are capable.  Help them see alternatives instead of highlighting their inadequacies.

Posted under Toastmasters

I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

Take this opportunity to send an email to someone that has made a difference in your life this year.  It doesn’t have to be life altering, just sincere.  I received such an email this past week and it really made me realize how little we let people know how much we appreciate them.

Posted under General

Check out the video below.  It is a presentation by Tim Wilson entitled “Speech Evaluation Made Easy.”  Tim describes very well how an evaluation is a balancing act between being nice and being Darth Vader!

Tim also explains the importance of the opening in an evaluation.  I wish he would have given more specific examples in this area to really challenge people to give compelling openings.

Posted under Toastmasters

To obtain an insightful understanding of protégés, mentors need to have a personal relationship with them. [...] This means that excellent mentors are accessible and available.  But they also need to exhibit the human skills of listening, caring, communicating openly, and giving constructive feedback.  To conclude, taking the time to truly know protégés is arguably the most important of the mentoring virtues.

- Elements of Mentoring by W. Brad Johnson & Charles R. Ridley.

Posted under Mentoring, Quote

Because boring doesn’t work.

Boredom gets in the way of understanding. What enables and encourages understanding, on the other hand, is style. Style engages the audience. It delights them. It speaks to them on a human level.

- Presentation Coach

When you give an evaluation, are you boring? Do you stick purely to the facts and deliver informative but dull feedback? Consider adding some color. Tell a story, add some humor, lighten up!

Posted under Public Speaking

There is a difference between judgement and feedback. Judgement is what you said was wrong while feedback is “this is how. I felt about your speech.” This enables people to find out which area they can improve.

-Loghandran Krishnasamy, First Runner Up, WCPS 2008, taken from this article.

Posted under Quote