The Art of Effective Evaluation by Johnson Yike, DTM Area B5 Workshop, 5 October 2011

In a Nutshell The more effective we evaluate, the more we can help each other. And by doing this, we can ALL become better speakers.

The Benefits of Effective Evaluation For the Speaker, Effective Evaluation… For The Evaluator, Effective Evaluation … It Helps Our Club, Because Effective Evaluation … For the Speaker, Effective Evaluation… Is a timely and powerful learning aid Paves the way to better speaking skills Provides recognition and ego-fulfillment Creates a positive climate for motivation Building and maintains healthy self-esteem For The Evaluator, Effective Evaluation … Provides opportunities to help others Develops an attitude of helping interest Builds positive interpersonal relationship Develops listening skills Builds impromptu speaking skills It Helps Our Club, Because Effective Evaluation … Contributes to a high standard of excellence Builds a positive climate Develop role models Creates a success-oriented atmosphere Keeps people coming to meetings

The Benefits of Effective Evaluation For the Speaker, Effective Evaluation… Is a timely and powerful learning aid Paves the way to better speaking skills Provides recognition and ego-fulfillment Creates a positive climate for motivation Building and maintains healthy self-esteem

The Benefits of Effective Evaluation For The Evaluator, Effective Evaluation … Provides opportunities to help others Develops an attitude of helping interest Builds positive interpersonal relationship Develops listening skills Builds impromptu speaking skills

The Benefits of Effective Evaluation It Helps Our Club, Because Effective Evaluation … Contributes to a high standard of excellence Builds a positive climate Develop role models Creates a success-oriented atmosphere Keeps people coming to meetings

Session Objectives To help us recognize the purpose and value of effective speech evaluation To discover ways we can improve our evaluation skills To stimulate group discussion

Learning Methods Why we evaluate Why people want to learn to speak How we improve as speakers The roles we play when we evaluate How self-esteem affects learning to speak Guidelines and Methods There is really just one answer to this question. When you evaluate a speech in this Toastmasters Club, your primary purpose is to help another person so he/she can become a better speaker. All other reasons for evaluation are secondary to this.

Learning Methods Why we evaluate Why people want to learn to speak How we improve as speakers The roles we play when we evaluate How self-esteem affects learning to speak Guidelines and Methods We want to learn to speak so we can … Gain knowledge and skill Meet a specific need Gain material rewards Earn credit toward recognition Gain pleasure Build self-esteem Build self-confidence Win acceptance and esteem from others

Learning Methods Why we evaluate Why people want to learn to speak How we improve as speakers The roles we play when we evaluate How self-esteem affects learning to speak Guidelines and Methods

How We Improve As Speakers Improvement requires behavioral change Evaluation is a source of information The ultimate responsibility lies with the speaker Improvement requires behavioral change. For us to become better speakers, we must change our behavior – do things differently than we’re doing them now. Evaluation is a source of information. The function of feedback, or evaluation, is to provide us with information we can use in changing our behavior. The ultimate responsibility lies with the speaker. Only the speaker can actually make the changes in behaviour that bring about improvement. When we as speakers are evaluated by fellow members, WE must decide whether their feedback is valid. And WE must decide if we will act on it.

Learning Methods Why we evaluate Why people want to learn to speak How we improve as speakers The roles we play when we evaluate The difference between evaluation and criticism How self-esteem affects learning to speak

The Roles of the Evaluator Motivator Recognizing improvement Reinforcing desire Facilitator Concentrate on specific methods Counselor Understanding and sensitive MOTIVATOR Human motivation must come from within. But as an evaluator, you can help create a climate for motivation by … FACILITATOR To evaluate effectively, we must all understand the difference between evaluation and criticism. A critic simply identifies strengths and weakness. But an evaluator must concentrate on specific methods for improvement. COUNSELOR ... Reducing fear is an immediate need – far more important than making mechanical improvement.

Learning Methods Why we evaluate Why people want to learn to speak How we improve as speakers The roles we play when we evaluate How self-esteem affects learning to speak Guidelines and Methods

Self-Esteem: Key To Personal Growth What Is Self-Esteem? How Self-Esteem Affects Learning To Speak Self-esteem fuels personal growth Feedback reinforces personal growth Personal growth nourishes self-esteem Increased self-esteem promotes growth Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves. It’s the extent to which we consider ourselves capable, significant, worthy, and successful. Dr. Nathaniel Branden, “self-esteem is the single most important key to our behaviour. It governs every emotional response we make. And it greatly affects our thinking processes, desires, values, goals, and interpersonal relationships.” Dr. Herbert Otto, “Change and growth take place when a person risk himself and dares to experiment with his own life.” Evaluation must do two things; It must point us towards personal growth by showing us where and how we can improve. It must build our self-esteem, making us feel good about what we’ve accomplished and motivating us to grow even more.

Learning Methods Why we evaluate Why people want to learn to speak How we improve as speakers The roles we play when we evaluate How self-esteem affects learning to speak Guidelines and Methods

Guidelines Be genuine Recognize strengths Recognize improvements Create a climate for motivation Avoid value judgments Provide positive direction Be genuine. To be effective, your feedback must be honest and sincere. It should reflect your genuine desire to help the speaker improve. Recognize strengths. Research has shown that adults who receive sincere, deserved praise achieve greater growth than those who don’t. Recognize improvements. Emphasize areas where the speaker has shown improvement. Let them know they have accomplished something worthwhile. Create a climate for motivation. Help the speaker realize he/she can improve even more. Avoid value judgments. To be effective, feedback must concentrate on the speaker’s behaviour – not on the speaker as a person. This is especially important when evaluating someone who is nervous or lacks confidence. Provide positive direction. Show the speaker how he or she can improve even more.

Methods For Effective Evaluation “Tell and Sell” The evaluator talks, and the speaker listens “Tell and Listen” The evaluator talks, then the speaker is given an opportunity to respond “Problem Solving” The evaluator engages the speaker in two- way dialogue  own evaluation “Tell and Sell” method Advantage: brevity. Least time-consuming method of evaluation. Disadvantage: speaker defensive if the speaker feels the evaluation isn’t on target. Create personal animosities. “Tell and Listen” method Advantage: Removes defensive feeling. Builds positive interpersonal relationships and group unity. Evaluator improve. Disadvantage: longer. New member or anxious speaker, it may increase nervousness, rather than reduce it. “Problem-Solving” method Advantage: Specific area of focus, ask non-threatening questions, build mutual agreement. Disadvantage: longer. New member or anxious speaker, it may

How To Evaluate Effectively Show That You Care Suit Your Evaluation To The Speaker Learn the Speaker’s Objective Listen Actively Personalize Your Language

How To Evaluate Effectively (Cont.) Give Positive Reinforcement Help The Speaker Become Motivated Evaluate The Behavior – Not The Person Nourish Self-Esteem Show The Speaker How To Improve

The Speaker Has Responsibilities Too ! Communicate your goals Help your evaluator prepare Prepare diligently Empathize with your evaluator Help your evaluator improve Prepare to change

Question and Answer

Hands-On Activity Speech and Evaluations Test Speaker Respective Project Evaluators.

Project #2: Organize Your Speech Objectives: Select an appropriate outline which allows listeners to easily follow and understand your speech. Make your message clear, with supporting material directly contributing to that message Use appropriate transitions when moving from one idea to another. Create a strong opening and conclusion

Project #4: How To Say It Objectives: Select the right words and sentence structure to communicate your ideas clearly, accurately, and vividly. Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize ideas. Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words. Use correct grammer.

Project #6: Vocal Variety Objectives: Use voice volume, pitch, rate and quality to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message Use pauses to enhance your message Use vocal variety smoothly and naturally

How Can We Improve? Do we want to evaluate more effectively? Do we understand how we can improve? Are we comfortable with the act of evaluating?

How To Change Our Evaluation Behavior Decide what you want to change Recognize the benefits of change Put the change into action Make it a habit Never stop improving !

Imagine you are evaluating an Evaluation vs Contest TIP: Imagine you are evaluating an ICE BREAKER project Evaluators Contestants Guided form It is about the Speaker To compliment, motivate and encourage. “It’s a personal opinion” Free form It is about the Contestant To compliment, motivate, encourage AND STAND OUT. “It’s a challenge”

Question and Answer

Thank You Email: jyike78@gmail.com