Goals: Speak more naturally & be more relatable while connecting with my audience.
- Thanks for being here!
Do you know that the fear of public speaking is often greater than the fear of death itself?
That’s what studies show anyway.
- Firing squad vs. stage.
I don’t know about you, but I’m less afraid of speaking & more afraid of what people will think of ME when I speak…
- On social media, negative comments = increased views.
- Speech at event = typically no one evaluating my grammar, awkward pauses, etc.
- Toastmasters makes it scary… (Evaluator) (Ahh Counter) (People Voting)
If you’ve got the guts to give even one speech in Toastmasters, you’re definitely qualified to give one in public…
Isn’t it cool that we have a group of Toastmasters family here who care about helping us improve and give their honest feedback? You guys are awesome!
The feedback I’ve received as a speaker over the past few years has been incredibly beneficial as I worked to become an influencer!
Many of you know me as a business owner, podcast host, and some of you have probably watched my show on Amazon Fire TV.
Listening to your evaluation & feedback has given me the confidence to speak at more public events, and I’ve learned tips to use a few notes still, but not need to read my speeches word-for-word.
Guide for giving feedback
1. Be specific
Giving specific tips instead of generalizations makes it easier for the recipient to apply your feedback.
2. Give evidence
Being reminded of the actual words you said or movements you made makes the feedback more effective.
3. Describe any emotional impact
Including how a speech made you feel can help the speaker to tailor their next message to make sure it has the right effect on their audience!
4. Focus on being constructive
(Sandwich technique) We’re all here to learn & improve. This group is great about offering positive feedback! There are only so many things you can work on at the same time, and it can affect your motivation if you receive a list of “negatives.”
5. Use ‘I’ statements
Try and give feedback from your perspective. Say, “I felt that you rushed the part when you explained how the product is used by customers,” instead of “You rushed how customers are using your product.”
6. Prioritise areas to focus on
Toastmasters makes this easy because each speaker is asked to provide their goals to the evaluator before each speech! For example, my goals for this speech were to speak more naturally & be more relatable while connecting with my audience.
Focusing on these goals as an evaluator will help you focus on those areas when providing feedback.
7. Align with goals
Try not to evaluate a speaker based on if you agree with the topic of their speech, but rather on the quality of the delivery. This can be difficult for speeches about religion, politics, parenting, or other topics we try to avoid in this club. If we had a member running for political office, it may be necessary for them to bring politics into the speech, but the most useful feedback starts with an understanding of what their goals and objectives are, for example, why are they giving this presentation?
Tips for receiving feedback
If you are receiving feedback, remember:
1. Feedback is impersonal
The feedback given by the evaluator is not a comment on you as a person. It’s what the evaluator saw during the speech.
2. Listen with an open mind
Your evaluator is here to help you improve! In this club, we all care about each other & want to see each other improve! Remember that, even if the feedback isn’t what you want to hear!
3. Put it into action
Think about what you will change as a result of the feedback you have received. I’ll be doing that today!
When done correctly, feedback is a powerful means of personal development.
Acting on feedback will make future presentations more effective! Be thankful for it!