One of the nice things about a Toastmasters meeting is that everything gets evaluated.
That may seem like a strange phrase to say or but it is true. When I say ‘it is true’, I do not mean that it is true that everything gets evaluated, I mean that it is a nice thing. At this point, I am sure any good evaluator would pull me up for using the term, ‘thing’ too often.
Why it is nice to have your speech, your evaluation or your role evaluated is that it is done in a positive and encouraging way. the evaluator will usually give an account of their reaction to your speech, they will indicate points or aspects of your speech which could be improved and they will usually conclude with an observation on how effective your speech has been. Each evaluation will vary but the overall ethos is that the evaluation shall be positive and supportive of the speaker and their continued learning.
An evaluation of this nature is central to Toastmaster club meetings and it certainly helps members to progress in their public speaking skills. At a meeting, everyone is there to learn, the club gives its members the opportunity to practise and try out new skills and techniques. Sometimes these may work and sometimes they are not right for the particular speaker or the type of speech being made. Very often, the technique is a good one but it needs to be improved further. That is an important part of club meetings; they give each member the opportunity to try out ideas and techniques. These are opportunities they might not get at work (where their presentation may need to be perfect each time) or in any other social setting. This evaluation represents feedback in a supportive way and not criticism from a fussy boss or an uninterested audience, such as might occur in a work setting.
I do not wish to give the impression that each evaluation is given through rose-tinted spectacles (ugh, a cliche) because faults and issues are spotted and often raised as ‘points for improvement’. Such Points are aspects of the speech or the speaker’s performance which could be improved with further practice or experience. It is important to note, though, that these ‘points’ may not always be ‘negative’ points; they could be positive points which a speaker may want to deploy further in their speeches. The use of humour, for example, may be a positive aspect which a new speaker only tries tentatively at first, a ‘point for improvement’ might be to utilise humour more in a speech.
Giving an evaluation is a skill, or rather a series of skills, that needs to be developed by members. A skilfull evaluation is a positive and enhancing experience for a speaker to receive. During their time within a club, members will be asked to give various evaluations and, with each one, their skills in observation and delivery improve. It can be daunting to give an evaluation especially if you are a new member who has been asked to give an evaluation of an experienced member. However, that experienced member will be used to receiving evaluations and will welcome feedback, especially from a new(ish) member; often a new member can bring observations and insight not previously offered.
The importance of evaluations at a meeting is recognised by the fact that an award is given to the ‘best evaluator’ at each meeting. This award is allocated according to the wishes of the audience, who will have voted as to whom they felt gave the best evaluation.
For people who wish to learn or improve their skills in speaking, the evaluations given at a toastmasters club meeting are extremely valuable and effective. They are also almost unique in offering free, positive and encouraging feedback or critique. This, I feel, is just one of the more positive aspects of learning public speaking via Toastmasters. Yes, evaluations are a ‘nice thing’.
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