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.

“Technical issues” – the projector doesn’t want to play ball, you forgot the power cord, your laptop died, the file is corrupted, a blue screen, the mouse, anything that can go wrong… did!

What are you to do?  Well, you can blabber on about how your slides would have shown this or that and blame technology for your shortsightedness… or you can take control of your destiny and use the “Talking Pad”

Seth Godin’s latest post tells you what the Talking Pad is.

thick pen or marker and a legal pad

This can be your backup when the unthinkable happens.  BTW, it really isn’t unthinkable so much as it is ignored with the hope that it never happens.

BUT WAIT!!!!

If you can present a compelling presentation with a Talking Pad, why not do this in the first place?  Why depend at all on slides?  There’s not much that can go wrong with a thick pen (with a backup) and a legal pad – both of which are likely available for next to nothing anywhere.

BUT WAIT ONE MORE TIME!!!

Did you just let out a sigh of relief?  Don’t get too excited.  You will need to spend just as much time (hopefully not the night before) on preparing your Talking Pad presentation as you would for your slides.  More possibly because this will not feel comfortable unless you practice it.

I suggest that the next time you give a speech to use the Talking Pad.  Get comfortable with when you give your next Toastmasters meeting so that when it really matters you will be ready.

When you use the Talking Pad next, please let me know how it went and share what you learned from the experience.

Update:

Seth just did a follow up post on a Modern Talking Pad.  Kinda like a Mad-Libs version where you fill in the blanks with your client.

Question: How has Toastmasters and more specifically evaluations helped you with being a professional speech coach?

It has made me an active listener, taught me to critique on the fly, and exposed me to a large diversity of both speaking styles and audience needs. The broader one’s experience, the greater help they can be as a coach.

Question: What skills does a speech coach need to possess and why?

A coach must be able to discern what is inside the speaker, and be able to coach them to bring what’s inside out to an audience in the way the audience needs to hear, it, as opposed to how the speaker wants to say it. Coaching is a balancing act of ego and efficiency , listening and communicating, guiding and inspiring. Coaching is sales – your client must want to buy what you’re saying. Once you know how they like to buy, you can sell them all the way to the highest stages.

About Rich Hopkins

In addition to finishing 3rd in the 2006 WCPS, Rich has been a 5 time District Evaluation Contest Finalist, winning 3 of those 5 times.  He has been a Toastmaster for over 10 years and has expanded significantly on Toastmaster evaluation theory as a professional speaker and presentations coach.

Visit Rich’s blog to see his current progress towards making it a 3rd time to the WCPS and also follow Rich on Twitter.

Question: How would a Toastmaster improve their evaluation skills?

1. Evaluating every chance you get.
2. Taking  notes on speakers they are not evaluating, and comparing them to what their evaluator says.
3. Trying different note techniques – there are several templates available on the internet  – or make your own.
4. Record your evaluations. You’ll be amazed at what you said, and what you didn’t.
5. Going to other clubs to evaluate speakers they are not familiar with.
6. Competing in the Evaluation Contests.

About Rich Hopkins

In addition to finishing 3rd in the 2006 WCPS, Rich has been a 5 time District Evaluation Contest Finalist, winning 3 of those 5 times.  He has been a Toastmaster for over 10 years and has expanded significantly on Toastmaster evaluation theory as a professional speaker and presentations coach.

Visit Rich’s blog to see his current progress towards making it a 3rd time to the WCPS and also follow Rich on Twitter.

Related Posts

Why Compete?

Question: What is the difference between a good evaluation and a great evaluation?

A good evaluation covers basics, follows the manual, and encourages  the speaker. This is the least any evaluation should do.

A great evaluation shows, not just tells, a speaker what they can improve on the next time, and gives the speaker enthusiasm to speak again. It also reinforces what they are doing well, leaving them more open to the constructive criticism provided. I often demonstrate to the speaker how I would have used my voice differently, or show them on the same stage where their gestures and body movements could have strengthened their speech.

About Rich Hopkins

In addition to finishing 3rd in the 2006 WCPS, Rich has been a 5 time District Evaluation Contest Finalist, winning 3 of those 5 times.  He has been a Toastmaster for over 10 years and has expanded significantly on Toastmaster evaluation theory as a professional speaker and presentations coach.

Visit Rich’s blog to see his current progress towards making it a 3rd time to the WCPS and also follow Rich on Twitter.

Related Posts

Interview with Colin William

Question: Were you comfortable evaluating when you first joined Toastmasters?

I was comfortable, but not necessarily effective.

Several years of drama experience in college, watching the directors, dealing with rehearsals, gave me a keen eye for performance     technique. In addition, the graphic design program I was in required regular presentations and evaluations in the classroom on a weekly basis.

It was when I went beyond critiquing technical aspects, and towards helping speakers find more of themselves through technique, that     my evaluations had more impact. If speakers must care about their audience, evaluators must care about their speakers.

Question: What helped you become comfortable as an evaluator?

Becoming a comfortable evaluator is similar to becoming a comfortable speaker. Know your audience – ask your speaker what they need from you beyond the manual guidelines. What are they trying to accomplish.

Stage time – evaluate often, and enter the contests. Even just attending evaluation contests, one gets the opportunity to see top-notch evaluators, and witness the different styles and approaches of each on the same speech.

Accepting that I couldn’t say EVERYTHING in an evaluation. Write more in the manuals, and talk with your speaker afterwards if need be.

About Rich Hopkins

In addition to finishing 3rd in the 2006 WCPS, Rich has been a 5 time District Evaluation Contest Finalist, winning 3 of those 5 times.  He has been a Toastmaster for over 10 years and has expanded significantly on Toastmaster evaluation theory as a professional speaker and presentations coach.

Visit Rich’s blog to see his current progress towards making it a 3rd time to the WCPS and also follow Rich on Twitter.

Related Posts

What is your intent?

Question: How would you describe evaluations to someone who has never been to a Toastmaster meeting?

An evaluation is an opportunity to hear an individual give you their opinion of your speech delivery in a direct, yet supportive manner. The absence of back and forth discussion provides  the evaluator an opportunity to fully express  several thoughts in a short amount of time. The goal for the evaluator is to single out items to praise and reinforce, as well as identify areas of improvement based on the experience level of the speaker.

For the speaker being evaluated, it is an opportunity to practice discernment. Determining which advice is sound vs. which advice may not apply is a valuable life tool, as well as speaking skill. In the end, it is the speakers job to do what they wish with feedback given.

For others in the room, it becomes an exercise in listening – and applying someone else’s evaluation to their own speaking. A great opportunity to learn from other mis-steps and magnificence.

About Rich Hopkins

In addition to finishing 3rd in the 2006 WCPS, Rich has been a 5 time District Evaluation Contest Finalist, winning 3 of those 5 times.  He has been a Toastmaster for over 10 years and has expanded significantly on Toastmaster evaluation theory as a professional speaker and presentations coach.

Visit Rich’s blog to see his current progress towards making it a 3rd time to the WCPS and also follow Rich on Twitter.

Related Posts

Who learns from a Toastmaster speech?

I was talking to Lance about my 2008 District speech entry.  The title was “Spread Your Wings.”  Lance asked me what my message was.  I told him that the message was to… spread your wings.  He immediately told me that it is generally not a good idea to have your message be part of your title.

It’s tempting to use your message as your title, but it unfortunately detracts from your message.  There’s no element of surprise or mystery.  You put your audience on the defensive and the judges may find your speech  predictable.

Try to use a creative title based on an aspect of your speech.  It can be difficult coming up with a great title.  I posted some of my thoughts on a speech title for a Region winning speech.