Evaluation Contests

Because evaluation is so important, it's one of the skills included in our annual Toastmasters contests. I will describe a typical evaluation contest.

First, there is a "target speaker." This target speaker is not a contestant. Rather, he or she prepares and delivers a speech, for the sole purpose of giving the contestants a "target." (For example, here is a speech that I gave once, as a target speaker.) During the speech, the contestants all take notes, just as they would, as an assigned speech evaluator, at a regular meeting. Then, they are taken out of the room and given 5 minutes to review their notes. After the 5-minute period, the Sergeant at Arms collects all the notes, so that the later contestants will not have an advantage over the earlier ones.

As the evaluators are brought back into the contest room, one at a time, these notes are returned. Each evaluator gives a 2-minute evaluation speech (similar to what would happen at a regular meeting), trying to find both good points and improvement areas. Because official "target speakers" are usually experienced Toastmasters, it can be especially challenging to try to find areas to improve.

Finally, the contest judges declare a winner. Judging is objective and not a matter of "who did I like best." Note that, the evaluation is a mini-speech, in itself and is judged on all the normal speaking criteria - organization, good use of gestures, vocal variety, etc. And, of course, the contestants are judged on the quality of the actual evaluations, such as the following ... Did the evaluator find both good points and improvement points? Was the tone constructive?

Attend your next club, Area, Division or District evaluation contest. You'll enjoy it and learn a lot!