Evaluations - help us all improve!
Toastmasters program offers a valuable skill set which consists of public speaking, communication as well as leadership skills that helps everyone attending with self-improvement.
Out of the set of skills that the Toastmasters program offers, an essential one is providing evaluations. A speech evaluator has to listen as well as observe a speech delivered by a fellow Toastmaster and provide an evaluation to help the individual speaker and whole club improve. Providing clear, focused, appropriate feedback and evaluations are a key skill that by practicing at Toastmasters you can use in all areas of your professional and maybe home life!
Speech and Table Topic Evaluations
When giving evaluations:
Five Key points to consider as an Evaluator
1. Before the speech, review the evaluation guidelines for that particular project and approach the speaker to discuss the objectives for their speech
2. Personalize your language. Before giving your evaluation, put yourself in the position of the speaker. Use “I” phrases and stay away from phrases like “You didn’t … ,” “You should have … ,” “You failed to ….”
3. To encourage improvement, use words like “I believe …,” “My reaction was …,” “I suggest that….”
4. Evaluate the speech—not the person! Always keep your main purpose in mind: to support, help and encourage the speaker. Assess actions related to the speech.
5 Promote self-esteem. Motivate and inspire the speaker to deliver another speech by giving sincere praise and constructive suggestions on what they can improve. Always end your evaluation with positive feedback.
General Evaluator
The General Evaluator also review and provides feedback on the meeting evaluators (Speech and Table Topics). You assess the introductions and evaluations themselves – not add to the speech evaluation.
Did the introduction inviting and set the scene for the speaker?
Were the speakers’ personal goals and pathway speech objectives referenced and assessed?
Was the 'sandwich' technique employed: Did they undertake effective evaluations – offering specific commendation and recommendations?
Did they begin on a positive note?
Was at least one suggestion for improvement made?
Were more than 3 suggestions made?
Was encouragement added at the close?
Four cornerstones of a robust evaluation
Analytical Quality refers to the effectiveness of the evaluation. Every evaluation should carefully analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the speaker’s presentation. Were the evaluator’s comments clear and logical? Did the evaluator identify specific strengths and weaknesses of the presentation?
Recommendations are an important part of an evaluation. An evaluator not only points out the strengths and weaknesses of a speech, he/she also offers specific recommendations for improvement. Recommendations should be practical, helpful and positive, and they should enable the speaker to improve his or her next presentation.
Technique refers to the way the evaluator presents his/her comments and recommendations. An evaluator should be sensitive to the feelings and needs of the speaker, yet inspire and encourage the speaker in his/her future speaking efforts.
Summation is how the evaluator concludes the evaluation. The conclusion should briefly summarize the evaluator’s comments and suggestions and be positive and encouraging.
Toastmasters program offers a valuable skill set which consists of public speaking, communication as well as leadership skills that helps everyone attending with self-improvement.
Out of the set of skills that the Toastmasters program offers, an essential one is providing evaluations. A speech evaluator has to listen as well as observe a speech delivered by a fellow Toastmaster and provide an evaluation to help the individual speaker and whole club improve. Providing clear, focused, appropriate feedback and evaluations are a key skill that by practicing at Toastmasters you can use in all areas of your professional and maybe home life!
Speech and Table Topic Evaluations
When giving evaluations:
- Approach each speech with honesty while remaining positive
- Pay attention to the speaker’s goals for self-improvement
- Evaluate what the speaker does and not who the speaker is
- Report what you see, hear and feel as a member speaks
- Delivering an evaluation is an excellent way to practice and demonstrate your speaking skills.
Five Key points to consider as an Evaluator
1. Before the speech, review the evaluation guidelines for that particular project and approach the speaker to discuss the objectives for their speech
2. Personalize your language. Before giving your evaluation, put yourself in the position of the speaker. Use “I” phrases and stay away from phrases like “You didn’t … ,” “You should have … ,” “You failed to ….”
3. To encourage improvement, use words like “I believe …,” “My reaction was …,” “I suggest that….”
4. Evaluate the speech—not the person! Always keep your main purpose in mind: to support, help and encourage the speaker. Assess actions related to the speech.
5 Promote self-esteem. Motivate and inspire the speaker to deliver another speech by giving sincere praise and constructive suggestions on what they can improve. Always end your evaluation with positive feedback.
General Evaluator
The General Evaluator also review and provides feedback on the meeting evaluators (Speech and Table Topics). You assess the introductions and evaluations themselves – not add to the speech evaluation.
Did the introduction inviting and set the scene for the speaker?
Were the speakers’ personal goals and pathway speech objectives referenced and assessed?
Was the 'sandwich' technique employed: Did they undertake effective evaluations – offering specific commendation and recommendations?
Did they begin on a positive note?
Was at least one suggestion for improvement made?
Were more than 3 suggestions made?
Was encouragement added at the close?
Four cornerstones of a robust evaluation
Analytical Quality refers to the effectiveness of the evaluation. Every evaluation should carefully analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the speaker’s presentation. Were the evaluator’s comments clear and logical? Did the evaluator identify specific strengths and weaknesses of the presentation?
Recommendations are an important part of an evaluation. An evaluator not only points out the strengths and weaknesses of a speech, he/she also offers specific recommendations for improvement. Recommendations should be practical, helpful and positive, and they should enable the speaker to improve his or her next presentation.
Technique refers to the way the evaluator presents his/her comments and recommendations. An evaluator should be sensitive to the feelings and needs of the speaker, yet inspire and encourage the speaker in his/her future speaking efforts.
Summation is how the evaluator concludes the evaluation. The conclusion should briefly summarize the evaluator’s comments and suggestions and be positive and encouraging.