AN EVALUATION LIKE NO OTHER

Hope Kansiime, Vice President Education, Bukoto Toastmasters Club shares her experience at the recent Bukoto Toastmasters Club Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest held on 5th February 2019.

The Evaluation contest is an opportunity for Toastmasters members to test and sharpen their speech evaluation skills before many people. Basically, a number of contestants evaluate one prepared speech delivered on that day. 

I have always enjoyed evaluation, although others didn't appreciate it. Many people believe that feedback has to be critical-pointing out each and every flaw. They forget to package it with praise, thus leaving a bitter taste in the lives of those they evaluate. This causes people to shy away from receiving or requesting feedback,thus perpetuating the culture of negative, and sometimes humiliating feedback. I was therefore thrilled to join Toastmasters which thrives on evaluation that is affirming, sympathetic and motivational. When I heard about this contest last year, I knew that I had to be among the contestants.

I therefore prepared for the contest by looking up notes and videos of evaluation contestants online, and kept practicing.

Taking the risk,leaving it all on the floor

On the D day, I kept wondering if I would remember all that I had read. I was also anxious because I realized that with 6 people evaluating one speaker, it was difficult to say what others hadn't already said. When I walked into the room, I realized that whether I wanted it or not, the moment of truth had come. I saw the audience and it seemed as though the number had doubled. As I walked to the front, I quickly searched my mind to remember my presentation. Though, I had the notes in my hand, I never used them because I was worried that they would confuse me as they were too many. I decided to focus  on 6 points (an introduction, 2 points on what I liked  about  the speech, 3 points on what I thought could be improved and a conclusion where I encouraged  the speaker to go forth on her Toastmasters journey. At the beginning of my presentation, I couldn't locate where the guest speaker was seated. Before this could disorganize me, I recalled that one of the pointers I had read online encouraged me to not only look at the speaker but engage the rest of the audience with eye contact. This technique helped me to stay focused throughout my presentation. 

Accepting my certificate as winner of the Contest 

I gleaned a few lessons from this experience. One, it is important to note where the speaker is seated before moving out so that you focus on both the speaker and audience. I also learnt that while writing my notes, I should write them in the structure I will use instead of writing too many points which cannot fit in the 2-3 minutes given. I also learnt that in an evaluation contest, you do not only engage one's listening skills, but also one's analysis skills. I was thrilled to emerge the winner of the Evaluation Contest and I will go ahead to compete in the Area Toastmasters Evaluation Contest that will held at Naguru Skyz Hotel on 5th March 2019 at 6pm.

While evaluation is an everyday aspect of our Toastmasters meetings and our own lives, the preparation for a contest takes it a notch higher. The competition snaps you out of your comfort zone. There are some pointers I got through my preparation for this contest that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I encourage everyone to join Toastmasters as delivering evaluations often and with feedback from others, will impact all other areas of your life including your workplace, business, and home, among others.

Want to come see me fight for the title of Toastmasters Evaluation Champion in Uganda? Come join us on 5th March 2019!