London Cardinals Toastmasters

Feature

Speech Evaluator

Speech Evaluators have the responsibility of evaluating individual prepared speakers. Evaluators will usually have completed at least three speeches from the Communication and Leadership manual.

Preparation

• If this is your first evaluation, review the advice given in "Effective Speech Evaluation" (which should have been received with your new member kit and Manual) and, if you wish, ask more experienced members for advice and help.
• Whenever the opportunity arises, attend an Evaluation Workshop that the club, or other clubs, will run from time to time.
• If you already know the speaker, some reflection on their past performances may assist with your evaluation.
• Find out the speech number/title from the speaker and discuss the objectives of the speech including any specific points the speaker may wish you to look out for.

At the meeting

• Borrow the speaker’s manual for your written evaluation and review the evaluation guidelines for that speech number in the manual
• Listen carefully to the speaker and record your immediate impressions - consider the questions set out in the evaluation guidelines
• Complete the written evaluation while the speech is fresh in your mind.
• In your oral evaluation, always end with encouragement and praise
• The spirit of an evaluation is not one of criticism but it is important to make positive recommendations where there is room for improvement
• The format of evaluations used in Toastmasters has become known as "Commend - Recommend - Commend"
• Ensure you address the room rather then the individual you are evaluating i.e. "Fred did this particularly well", as opposed to "Fred, you did this particularly well"
• Take care not to exceed the time allowed