Notes for Evaluators

The following excerpts are from the Toastmasters International booklet entitled "Effective Speech Evaluation."

"The tone and content of an evaluation have great impact on the speaker and even on the Club. A harsh evaluation may cause the speaker to leave the Club. An overly kind evaluation may not help a speaker to improve, making the speaker frustrated and unhappy. Good evaluators strive to find that "middle ground," giving evaluations that are helpful and encouraging."

"When you are assigned to evaluate a speaker, your purpose is to provide honest reaction in a constructive manner to a speaker's presentation, using the evaluation guides provided. You are not a judge or an authority on speaking. When you evaluate, you are simply giving your own reaction to the speaker's presentation. An evaluation is an opinion, nothing more. This opinion should mention the presentation's effect on you, what the speaker did well, areas where the speaker could improve, and specific recommendations for improvement."

"The speaker has spent hours - even weeks - preparing her speech. She deserves the best evaluation possible. ... You will not need hours of preparation time, but you will need at least 15 minutes to do the following: 1) Read the speech project (described in the Communication and Leadership Program manual); 2) Read the evaluation guide for the project; 3) Talk with the speaker (to learn about her general goals and any specific areas in which she wants feedback)."

"You won't have time to cover everything. Instead, simply select two or three points which you feel are most important and elaborate on them. Be honest. If you did not like some aspect of the presentation, do not say that you did. Mention something that the speaker did well in addition to something on which the speaker could improve."

"How you phrase your evaluation has as much impact on the speaker as the content of your evaluation. When you mean well and have good ideas but use words that put the speaker on the defensive, your message is lost. Carefully select your words using the following guidelines:

> Remember that you are speaking only for yourself. You are not speaking on behalf of the audience. Avoid saying "we think," "we believe," and "the audience would have."
> Avoid judgment words and phrases, such as "good speakers don't" and "that was the wrong thing to say."
> Use words that describe your own reaction to the speaker, such as "I was impressed with," or "I was confused about."
> Don't repeat a point once you have made it. Don't repeat a point once you have made it. Don't repeat a point once you have made it. Repeating a point can sound like nagging. 

"Look directly at the speaker as you give your presentation. Smile. This is not a speech, and you should do nothing that calls more attention to yourself than to your effort to help the speaker."

"Conclude on a positive note that helps the spekaer build self-esteem and self-confidence."