No Toastmasters club is fulfilling its obligation to its members unless it brings them the maximum of training in the art of constructive criticism.
Toastmasters founder Dr. Ralph C. Smedley from the book Personally Speaking
Toastmasters excel in Feedback
Toastmasters founder, Ralph Smedley, recognized the importance of constructive criticism. In fact, almost half of a Toastmasters meeting is devoted to evaluations.
When you are a speaker a fellow member will be assigned as your evaluator. The evaluator will be listening very closely to your speech. They will present you with their personal evaluation in front of the club and in written form. The evaluator’s focus is on you and their objective is to provide you with an evaluation which enables you to:
- Recognize your strengths
- Know exactly how you improve your future speeches
- Feel motivated to apply your new knowledge to your next speech.
In the club, the evaluations not only benefit the speakers but also the observers are learning. They get insight into what other members think works or doesn’t work with a speech.
Every member who does an evaluation is also benefiting. They are applying listening and analytical skills. Equally as important they are learning the skills to deliver effective feedback.
Offering Feedback – A Skill to use Outside the Club
Effective feedback can:
- promote learning
- motivate
- encourage a change in behavior
Imagine using this powerful tool outside of the club for raising children, leading a team or teaching others.
Come to Toastmasters and learn the art of giving effective feedback.
The launch meeting of the Bamberg Toastmasters takes place on Monday March 27th, 7:30 at Ahörnla im Sand.