“How Not to Suck at Giving Toastmaster Evaluations” by Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM

Would you want someone to say nasty things about your speech and demoralize you? Of course “Not”! Dr. John Maxwell says, “Encouragement is oxygen for the soul.” Everyone in life needs encouragement to motivate and inspire them for success.

I have been a member of Toastmasters for four years. Toastmasters International is defined as a club “for helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills.” Toastmasters clubs teach their members, through their manual speeches, how to prepare speeches, how to deliver speeches, how to critically think and improve their written and oral presentation skills. Many speeches in the Toastmasters manuals are 5-7 minutes and are timed. Constructive feedback is given in a positive friendly atmosphere. Every manual speech has an Evaluator who will listen critically to tell the speaker what the speaker has done well and what they need to improve. Every person in life needs positive encouragement to motivate and inspire them.

During exam week at a College in Virginia , I had finished teaching for the day and was getting into my car in the parking lot when one of my third year education students ran over and said, “My friend “G” is about to be thrown out of College. She is in her third year of the education program. G’s main professor said “She is not talented enough to be a teacher. “G” is only shy. You have to help her right now!”

I immediately asked “A’ to take me to the auditorium where the professors were meeting to decide on “G’s” future. I walked in to “G’s” jury and raised my hand and asked the faculty committee, the men’s club, as I was the only women present, “If I could address them on “G’s” behalf?” They agreed.

“I asked the committee if it would be possible for me to work with “G” this summer, to make up their list of deficiencies, and in the fall the committee would re-convene and re-examine the issue of her graduation?” They asked me to leave so they could discuss this.

That summer we worked together to make up all her deficiencies in a step- by- step process. In the fall, the committee re-examined “G’s” application to graduate with her class. She passed with flying colors. The committee was very impressed and asked me, “How did you do it?” I answered, “Have you heard of kindness and patience?” One professor’s mouth fell to the floor. At that moment, I wished a fly would go by and go in the professors open mouth, but it didn’t happen!”

“G” graduated with honors and has been teaching very successfully for over 13 years in the public schools. During her summer vacations, she went back to school part time, to receive her Master’s degree in 2007. I received an invitation to her graduation. I’m very proud of her success. Through her adversity she has learned how to help her students gain self-esteem and self-worth by giving them positive encouragement and showing them kindness and patience. Her students love and respect her and she understands the value of positive encouragement and how it can last a life time.

Over the years I have watched my students and colleagues blossom from words of encouragement. Everyone in life needs positive encouragement to help us grow , inspire and motivate us to succeed. The “Power of Encouragement” gives us hope that we can succeed and everyone needs it!

One of my favorite rules is Dr. John Maxwell’s “30 second rule” which says, “Within the first thirty seconds of a conversation, say something encouraging to a person.” This should be your motto for evaluating and connecting with people.

Recently I gave a speech entitled “The Power of Encouragement”. The Evaluator for my speech sat and listened to my speech of how a teacher motivated, inspired, and empowered her 34 students by giving them positive encouragement which lasted for many years after her class. During this speech for over 6 minutes, the evaluator listened with tears running down his face. He seemed truly involved and touched by the story and message of my speech. The other Toastmasters were listening intently too! After my speech was concluded the evaluator was called up to the lectern to evaluate my speech.

He said, “Your diction needs improvement, you need more vocal variety, and you need to be more animated.”

Listening to his Evaluation “I felt like I had been whip lashed! Apparently nothing I did was any good. I felt like giving up!” Everyone needs to feel cared about and loved. When we cut people down and say nasty things about them we steal and take away their self-esteem. We do a hatchet job on their confidence. Vicious words hurt!

The purpose of a Speech Evaluation or any other type of evaluation is to tell the speaker or employee what they did well and what they can do to improve their speech or their work. The purpose of an evaluation is not to demoralize you and make you want to give up and quit. Words of encouragement motivate and inspire us to do a better job to improve our skills at delivering a speech or doing a job at a higher level.

So, how should you approach the Evaluation of your speaker?

1) First read the objectives of your speaker’s project.

2) Toastmaster World Champion Speaker Lance Miller says, “Ask your speaker if possible “if there is anything they are working on specifically that they want you to watch?”

3) Before the speech take out a blank piece of paper to take notes on. My mama, Romayne Leader Frank said, “New born babies arrive with blank pages. Be careful what you write on them.” Writing a speech evaluation is like that too! On one side of your blank page, before the speech begins, write down the following 5 parts of your speech leaving space for your brief notes: Opening, Body, Conclusion, and Message. On the other side of your blank page list the following Technical items of a speech and leave space to write brief notes: First impression, eye contact, vocal variety, use of notes, gestures, props, use of the stage, humor, audience attention, prepared or not. Does the speaker, speak with passion, conviction, enthusiasm, and clarity? Any distractions? Are they nervous? Be very brief in your notes.

4)As the speaker begins, "listen carefully and focus on your speaker.” Write down a few words on your first impression of your speaker’s opening. Did it grab your attention? On the body of the speech did your speaker tell a story and make a point? Bill Gove, "the legendary father of professional speaking" said, "Your audience will remember your stories long after they forget the content of your speech. Tell a story and make a point... and then tell them another story and make another point." Did your speaker do this? Did your speaker, speak with passion, conviction, enthusiasm, and clarity?

5)What was the conclusion? Did your speaker have a message, a “call to action” for their audience? Write down all your speaker’s strengths.

6)On the Technical side you are noting,in your short hand, if your speaker is making eye contact with the audience, how their vocal variety is , if they use notes, gestures, props, how they use the stage, if they use humor, if the audience’s attention is on your speaker, and if your speaker is prepared or not.

7)Do not look at the Evaluation sheet until after the speech is finished! When the speaker has finished speaking, then as the Evaluator you look at the evaluation form, and first tell them all the wonderful things you enjoyed about their speech. Then make one or two suggestions for improving their speech. Always begin and end with all the wonderful things the speaker has done in the speech.

Remember you are there to build up and make better speakers and leaders. You are not there to destroy anyone’s self-esteem. You are there to find their strengths and build on them. Words of encouragement motivate and inspire us to do a better job and these words last forever!

Madeline Frank,Ph.D., DTM is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, sought after speaker, business owner, motivational teacher, researcher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Businesses". Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your businesses successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly Article & Musical Tips" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". She has just published her new book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget".