Different Flavors of Evaluating
The job of the eVALUator is to find the value in the speaker: to notice the strengths, to make suggestions for development, to help the weak get stronger and the strong to achieve excellence. There are a variety of methods for effective evaluations.
Here is a collection of different flavors that I’ve used or seen produce excellent evaluations:
¨ The Sandwich Technique – A classic evaluation technique that starts with pointing out a strength and how they were manifested during the speech. In the middle, point out a weakness that detracted from the speech and how it detracted. Give the speaker a way to overcome the weakness. At the end, share a couple more strengths that you feel the person already has, that they should develop, and always end on an upbeat note.
¨ The COD Method — is one of my favorites for evaluating advanced speakers or non-manual speeches. Your evaluation is organization based on the elements of Content, Organization & Delivery. Strengths and areas for improvement are mentioned within each of those sections.
¨ The 3 C’s — is a slight variation on the sandwich technique. The 3 C’s are: Compliment, Critique & Challenge.
¨ Compliment: What did the speaker do that is worth repeating? Point out 3 or 4 things the speaker did right—things you liked and would recommend they do again.
¨ Critique: How can you help the speaker be a better speaker? Then comes the important observations that enables a speaker to grow. This is where you make a couple of suggestions for improvement.
¨ Challenge: What can you say to be sure the speaker will want to speak again? End your evaluation with one or two more positive things about the speaker and/or the speech. Your comments are ones that make the speaker want to get up and speak again.
¨ The Problem Solving Method — can be handled a couple of different ways: By posing rhetorical questions to the speaker or by engaging in a two-way dialogue with the speaker aimed at leading the speaker toward making his/her own evaluation and ideas for improvement. By encouraging the speaker to make his or her own evaluation, you’re much more likely to stimulate changes.
¨ PIN-UP:
¨ Positives – notice those qualities that differentiate the speaker from others at their level.
¨ Interesting – the “interesting “ section can be either positive or it can be a chance to focus on areas for improvement.
¨ Next Time – consider the speaker’s level of skills already acquired and make suggestions that can help them surpass their current level. Offer the speaker new challenges that will allow them to rethink their current patterns or try something new.
¨ UPlifting – find some motivational value in the speech content or in the delivery.
So, try another flavor on your cone and get a taste of variety in evaluating. Explore your results. All flavors have VALUE in everyday life, too!
Caren Borowski, ATMS
Toastmasters Leadership Institute
Denver, Colorado
June 26, 2004