President's Tip of the Week

Three Tips to Keep Your Evaluation on Track
(6/24/08)

This is a shortened version of an article that ran in the February 2007 Toastmasters magazine. The full article can be found online here.

“The words of the tongue should have three gatekeepers: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?” – ARABIAN PROVERB

ANALYSIS: Is it true? Are we accurate and honest in our response to what we heard and saw during the presentation? When serving as an evaluator, we must use all powers of observation to absorb the entirety of the speaker’s communication. It is important to distinguish between objective observation and subjective interpretation of what we see and hear. Jumping to conclusions does not serve the speaker or contribute to the learning experience for the rest of the audience.

RECOMMENDATION: Is it necessary? Will our suggestions be of practical help to the speaker and the audience who are hoping to learn from our comments? Recommendation should not focus on “what went wrong” but on “what might work better.” It looks forward, rather than backward. Recommendation needs to be practical and concrete: Take time to be specific and provide examples that you believe to be within the capacity of the speaker, so that your suggestions may be applied directly to his or her future speeches.

ENCOURAGEMENT: Is it kind? Do we provide support that allows the speaker to feel good about his or her effort and encouraged to present again? Although evaluations are addressed to a particular speaker, they are also intended to benefit the other people in the audience, which may include experienced members, novices and guests. [In addition to analyzing the speech in view of the manual objectives] a Toastmasters evaluator may provide additional feedback that addresses specific challenges the speaker is working on.

Speech evaluation is one of the most precious gifts we can offer our fellow Toastmasters members. We use our eyes and ears to analyze content and delivery and to determine what is true; we use our minds to formulate recommendations that address what is necessary. Most importantly, we use our hearts to provide encouragement and sustain the kind and supportive environment that nurtures us all. The ultimate success of an evaluation can be measured by how fully it encourages the speaker to present more – and better – speeches in the future.