How effective feedback transforms speakers, evaluators, and audiences alike
Author line:
By CA Kiran Vasant, DTM
Proact Toastmasters, Mangalore
If our communication must improve, it has to follow a continuous cycle:
- Step I: Be aware of our current strengths and weaknesses
- Step II: Learn how to improve through feedback
- Step III: Apply what we learn from feedback
- Step IV: Repeat the process continuously
Self-awareness alone is not enough. Growth happens only when feedback is accepted, applied, and reviewed repeatedly.
Why Speech Evaluations Matter
Feedback ensures that what we convey is understood in the manner it was intended. It allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of our message and makes communication meaningful.
Toastmasters is an organization that has made feedback an essential element of learning through structured speech evaluations.
A speech evaluation in a Toastmasters meeting is a formal speech delivered after a speaker completes a project speech. The evaluator’s objectives are to:
- Assess how well the speaker met the project objectives
- Highlight areas of improvement and avoidable mistakes
- Offer a constructive challenge for future speeches
A true evaluation opens a third eye — not only for the speaker, but also for the evaluator and the audience.
Steps Before the Evaluation
- Obtain the evaluation resource and understand project objectives
- Discuss the speaker’s personal goals where possible
- Arrive early with a notepad and pen
- Observe the speaker’s mindset to build empathy
- Ensure a clear view of the speaker and audience
- Prepare your evaluation plan
During the Speech: The G.L.O.V.E.S. Method
Evaluation requires intense observation. One Toastmaster aptly compared it to a surgical operation — where we must wear our G.L.O.V.E.S..
- G – Gestures
- L – Language
- O – Organisation
- V – Vocal Variety
- E – Energy, Enthusiasm & Extras
- S – Savviness
Those Three Minutes!
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” — J.R.R. Tolkien
The evaluator often feels there is too much to say and too little time. This is a good sign — it reflects sincerity. Empathy is the key.
- Sandwich Approach: Praise – Improve – Encourage
- Commend–Recommend–Commend
- The 3:2 Rule: Three strengths, two improvements
Make Your Evaluation Speech Even Better
- Use powerful adjectives and adverbs
- Apply the Rule of Three
- Use alliteration for impact
- Use anaphora for rhythm
- Employ metaphors and similes effectively
Many Toastmasters hesitate to take on the role of evaluator. Evaluation is a skill that develops with practice. The time to step up is now.
The time is NOW.