𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐈𝐬 𝐚 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭: 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Today I will be the evaluator for a prepared speech at Toastmasters. This is a meaningful milestone for me for two reasons.

First, it will be the last item on my checklist to complete 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟏.

Second, completing this will help my club move closer to 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 status, the highest recognition in Toastmasters. One of the requirements is having at least one member complete Level 1 along with other club goals. Being able to contribute to that progress makes this moment even more special.

This will be my second time giving an evaluation, and I will try my absolute best to deliver encouraging feedback so the speaker feels motivated to continue showing up and growing.

Evaluating someone’s speech requires careful listening, thoughtful observation, and the ability to share feedback in a way that helps the speaker grow. It is not just about pointing out what could be improved. It is also about recognizing what worked well and reinforcing those strengths.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from the Toastmasters evaluation training is the importance of staying positive. The goal is not to criticize the speaker. The goal is to support their growth while also recognizing what they did well. Positive feedback builds confidence and encourages people to keep improving.

Another important concept is using “I” statements. Instead of sounding like we are judging the speaker, we share what we personally experienced as listeners. For example, saying “I really connected with the story you shared about your first experience with public speaking” feels more personal and supportive.

Evaluations also need to be specific. Instead of general comments, the evaluator highlights specific moments in the speech. This helps the speaker understand exactly what worked well and what they might improve next time.

A helpful structure we learned for evaluations is organizing feedback into three parts. Since the evaluation time is usually 2–3 minutes, many Toastmasters evaluators follow a simple balance: two to three strengths, one or two improvement points, and one challenge for continued growth. This keeps the evaluation positive, focused, and helpful.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭:

This is where the evaluator highlights the strengths of the speech. It focuses on what the speaker did well, such as strong storytelling, clear structure, or effective pauses. The goal is to reinforce the behaviors that worked so the speaker knows what to continue doing in future speeches.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧:

This part focuses on areas for improvement. Instead of criticizing, the evaluator shares observations that can help the speaker grow. It might be about pacing, transitions between ideas, or vocal variety. The key is presenting these points respectfully so the speaker feels encouraged rather than discouraged.

𝐓𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟:

This section invites the speaker to take their skills one step further. It might suggest experimenting with something new such as stronger gestures, more vocal variety, or a more memorable closing. The idea is not just improvement, but continued growth.

One thing my mentor shared that stayed with me is this:

“Feedback is like a gift. You can open it and say ‘this is exactly what I wanted,’ or you can say ‘I’m going to have to take this back, it’s not quite the right fit.’”

I really liked that perspective because it shows how personal feedback can be. As evaluators, our responsibility is to offer thoughtful and supportive observations that help the speaker reflect on their speech and continue growing.

For me, this experience is helping me grow in a different way. It is teaching me how to listen more carefully and how to give thoughtful feedback. These are valuable skills not only in public speaking but also in everyday communication.

This experience is reminding me that giving feedback is also a skill. The more we practice it with care and encouragement, the more we help each other grow.