Have you ever wondered what are the value of the skills you are learning as a Toastmasters Evaluator? As I watched the TEDx Talk of Celeste Headlee, the value of
the skills learned in serving as an Evaluator in Toastmasters became apparent! Celeste is an
exceptional radio host and writer. In
her TEDx talk, she shares from her experiences leading hundreds of interviews to identify "10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation." These are her ten points from the
perspective of a Toastmaster. (CH= she
said it. TM= application to TM
Evaluations.) Master any one of these and you will be a great conversationalist
and a great evaluator. However, note
that Number 9 is the most important way to connect with people, in evaluations
and in conversations.
Let's start with number one.....
- 1 Be present.
TM: Let the message be the speaker’s not yours. Focus on the speakers’ message and delivery for the evaluation.
- 2 Don’t pontificate.
CH: Enter every conversation expecting that
you have something to learn. Everyone is an expert in something. If you want to pontificate, write a blog.
TM: Don’t add your experience or your own
message, let it be theirs alone, and the delivery of the presentation that you
focus on. There may be a reason they did it a certain way and you may not
always know the reason.
- 3 Use open ended questions.
CH: Use who, when, why, what and how
questions. Ie. How did that feel? vs. Were you angry?
You will gather much more valuable
information.
TM: Ask these questions before the speech
so you can evaluate the delivery during the speech. Know more than the audience
knows by planning ahead with the speaker.
- 4 Go with the flow.
CH: Let thoughts come and go. Be focused on
the topic of the moment. Let unrelated
thoughts go. Adding some unrelated statement is distracting and thoughtless toward
others.
TM: Focus on the speaker, not the meeting
or your own thoughts that are unrelated.
- 5 If you don’t know, say you don’t know.
CH: Err on the side of caution if you are
not an expert on the topic or have a reason to know.
TM: You are not an expert, you are an
evaluator who is always learning. Look for what you can learn from the manner
in which the speaker presented to share in your evaluation.
- 6 Don’t equate your experience with others’ experience.
CH: Your experience is never the same as
someone else’s experience. All
experiences are individual. Conversations
are not a promotional opportunity.
TM: Focus on their learning and your
learning from the speaker. A single suggestion or two is adequate to help them
learn too. Too much and they won’t
remember anything you suggested.
- 7 Try not to repeat yourself.
CH: Don’t say it over and over. If you want
to say it, write a blog.
TM: Use your outline to plan many good
comments without unnecessary repetition to fill time.
- 8 Stay out of the weeds.
TM: Give examples of the speaker’s speech, and not your own experience’s details. Focus on the other person and provide useful affirmations.
- 9 LISTEN! – The most important one.
CH:
If your mouth is open you’re not listening. Average person speaks at 225 words per minute,
yet can listen at 500 words per minute.
Focus with intention. Stephen Covey says, Most of us don’t listen with
the intent to understand, we listen with the intent to reply. Understanding these concepts help you be a
better conversationalist in every way.
TM: In your evaluation, help the audience remember the speaker's speech more than they remember your evaluation.
- 10 Be brief.
CH: Be interested in other people. Keep
your mouth closed and your mind open. ‘A good conversation is like a miniskirt,
short enough to draw attention and long enough to cover the subject.” Boardofwisdom.com
TM: You have 2-3 minutes to affirm and
inspire with your evaluation. Make each second count and end early if you can.
Follow these practices and be prepared to
be amazed. – Celeste Headlee
View her TEDx Talk: http://tinyurl.com/jha2ppj
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