Evaluating A Speech
Eric Feng, The Public Speaking Blog, wrote an excellent post today on giving and receiving effective speech evaluations. He lists thirteen points, including:
– Be generous with your smiles.
– Compliment the speaker.
– Clap like you mean it.
– Drop the speaker a nice email.
– And NINE more!
Visit Eric’s site for his thoughts on those points and more.
I’d like to add seven of my own points:
1. Have good intentions. What if you don’t like the speaker’s topic? Or maybe you don’t like the speaker! Come from a good place. Share your good will in an open-minded way. Likewise, when receiving an evaluation, always assume that the intentions of your evaluator are good.
2. To flinch is normal. Be aware that as an evaluator, the speaker you’re trying to help may show some resistance. Sometimes an evaluation feels like criticism, even when it’s meant to be helpful. That’s human nature and don’t take it personally. If you’re receiving an evaluation, avoid being defensive.
3. Remember the level of the speaker. Are you evaluating a novice speaker or a seasoned pro? The depth and tone of your evaluation will change depending on the experience of the speaker.
4. You were them. Remember that you were once a beginning speaker too. How did you feel giving a speech when you were starting out? What did it feel like getting an evaluation? What elements of an evaluation did you find especially effective?
5. Suggest one DOABLE thing. For each suggestion, give a very specific, DOABLE thing. I learned that from speaker-coach Max Dixon. Something that they can actually DO is easier to impliment than something to THINK. Actions are easier to apply than mindsets.
6. Keep your sense of humor. Whether giving or receiving an evaluation, keep your sense of humor. A little laugh can sweeten a suggestion.
7. It’s only an opinion. When giving an evaluation, remember that you’re only sharing your opinion. It’s not fact. It’s not the word of God. You’re simply a mirror that reflects back to the speaker how his or her speech affected you and how you think it might be improved.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Thanks for the tips John! I especially relate to #2. As Craig Valentine once said, many people seek validation, more than education… and that’s a shame because the speaker has just denied himself an opportunity to grow!
I added one more point in my list, inspired from Sunday’s district contest. Do check it out.
June 1st, 2008 at 10:02 am
I read about the value of Point #5: “One Doable thing.” The example I read was deliver your first three lines to one person.
I urge anyone who feels overwhelmed by the many ways that we would improve to use google to find information on David Allen’s ideas.
Use his book title, Getting Things Done, for the search term.
He says we need to get our coulds and shoulds out of our minds. We can store them in on paper, and or in electronic form.
The Idea is that for each item that we capture in our inbox, We must decide to throw it away, DETERMINE THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE, or put it on a SOMEDAY MAYBE LIST. (As opposed to feeling guilty about it.
It’s June 1st in Minneapolis. Summer arrived yesterday, after a very long winter. HAPPY SUMMER TO ALL.
June 1st, 2008 at 5:05 pm
A friend of mine in Toastmasters has Acting Experience — as well as many years of Professional Writing, Directing and Speaking. I’ve always found his speeches and contest entries Professional and Polished — and interesting.
However, because of his relaxed, “reflexive” style , this person is often chastised for Not Using “Vocal Variety ” and ” More Hand
Gestures.” These types of comments simply do not fit this
man’s Personality ; that is Not Him !
Steven Wright does not use huge Props like Gallagher does –
and he doesn’t pace around the stage and “insult people”
like Don Rickles. That is Not his Stage Persona ! SO : The
Evaluation of a Speech should RELATE to That Particular Person –
( who he / she is — Under / Before that Speech). If ya’
don’t really know the person speaking , you can “soften” comments
with “alternatives” ( You might consider adding / changing . . .)
or “subjectifying” ( I’d be tempted to . . . ) ( I think I would
try to add / change . . .). Artificial hand waving and
unnatural voice “changes” — usually show through right away –
and this “artifice” will start leeching away the truth and
honesty of the CONTENT of your speech.
LESSON : Key Your Suggestions for Changes to That Individual Speaker — as well as to That Topic and that Delivery . — Thanks