What I Learned In Toastmasters This Week: The Hardest Evaluation Ever.

Toastmasters is not just presenting a speech. As a Toastmaster, you can participate in several speaking opportunities during a meeting with specific roles such as Toastmaster, the Opener/Closer, the Joke Master, the 90 second tip and Table Topics Master.

I believe one of the most difficult roles in Toastmasters is the evaluator.

There is no specific way to prepare for the role because you are hearing the speaker and the speech for the first time. The evaluator has to be aware of the good and the parts of the speech and speaker that can be improved.

This week, I had the hardest evaluation ever. The speaker’s speech was to be 12 minutes long. The average speech time is 5 to 7 minutes. So, I would have to keep attention for 12 minutes which is really hard. You're listening to the speech and trying to put trying to pull out certain things to give feedback and suggestions to the speaker.

I was curious on how long the actual speech was going to be, so I use my own timer to time speech.

During the speech, the speaker did a lot of great things such as being very relaxed and giving great information.

I saw the yellow light timing light come on for the person. The person didn't even look at the light. It felt like the person was just getting revved up instead of making certain points. My timer was reading 10 minutes.

The speaker kept going. A few moments later, I looked at the timer light that was shining bright red. It had no effect on the speaker. I was looking down at my timer that was showing 15 minutes.

I glanced around at the audience, some were trying to be attentive, as others were looking around not knowing where to put their attention. The speech continue on and on. Then, the speaker said,” in conclusion” and wrapped up the speech.

I pressed the button on my timer. As the light applause was filled the room. My timer read 22 minutes.

My first thought was how to address the time factor along with the great things that the speaker did.

Now that the speech was so long. The whole meeting was thrown off by 10 minutes. Table Topics had only a few participants and leaving some of the guests out.

As I was writing my evaluation, I knew I had to factor in reducing my evaluation time at the lectern. So, I had to concentrate on the important points of the speech.

After doing evaluations over the years, I always try to provide takeaways for the speaker and the audience. I made a decision to focus on the good things the speaker did like coming to the side of the lectern while reading from a book, coming out into the audience and having a calming presence.

Also, I decided to address the issue of going way over time. I told the speaker and audience that I had actually timed the speech myself and it came out to 22 minutes. This is before the timer's official report.

I suggested to the speaker to time the speech out during the practice process. I mentioned that the speech could have been split into two speeches.

Even though, my evaluation time was short. I wanted the speaker and the audience to know the cost of going over the allotted time. I made a reference to a former member, the late David Casey who said that when a person goes over their specific time that it takes away from the other speakers. I made the reference in the most gentle, but yet direct way I could.

As I was speaking, I would occasionally glance to the speaker who was nodding in agreement. At that point, I knew that I was not coming off as an “evaluation villain.”

As a Toastmaster evaluator, I am always concerned about the speaker's feelings because I want to encourage them and not tear them down.

This evaluation was one of the hardest one I had to do because of what I had to say could really upset the speaker.

As I was writing the evaluation and later approaching the lectern to give the evaluation, I kept thinking of a quote by Franklin D Roosevelt that I keep in my notebook. It reads “Be sincere, Be brief, Be seated.” That is exactly what I did.

I knew I made the right choices when the speaker asked for my evaluation notes with a smile. Toastmasters has taught me even when it is hard, still get up to the lectern and be open and honest.

Bio

Arthur Byrd is a six year member and the current President of Executive 408 Toastmasters in Youngstown.

He is an Advanced Communicator Gold and working on his Advanced Leader Silver moving his way towards his DTM.

Visit Executive 408 Toastmasters in Youngstown

Executive 408 Toastmasters Youngstown meets every Monday 6:45-8:45 p.m at the Summitville Tile Building at 621 Boardman-Canfield Road in Boardman, Ohio.