Comments on: How to get the most out of Toastmasters http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/ Presentation tips from Olivia Mitchell Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:50:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-7059 Mark Sat, 20 Aug 2011 16:14:58 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-7059 Olivia - Awesome insight into TM. I am a struggling "CC" and I especially liked your comments about the evaluator. It shouldn't be just another speaking role in the meeting. The canned "good volume, good vocal variety" content-doesn't-matter evaluation is very depressing to me but I feel I have to put up with it to support the evaluator. Communication in TM terms is speaking. In human relations, communication requires content and that feelings be expressed understood and validated. Evaluation is more art than a skill. Olivia – Awesome insight into TM. I am a struggling “CC” and I especially liked your comments about the evaluator. It shouldn’t be just another speaking role in the meeting. The canned “good volume, good vocal variety” content-doesn’t-matter evaluation is very depressing to me but I feel I have to put up with it to support the evaluator. Communication in TM terms is speaking. In human relations, communication requires content and that feelings be expressed understood and validated. Evaluation is more art than a skill.

]]> By: Olivia Mitchell http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-6791 Olivia Mitchell Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:16:24 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-6791 Hi Tulia Thanks for your comment and sorry for my delay in replying (I've been travelling overseas). I just checked back in my post and I don't think that I said "immediate feedback is not good enough." I said that the limited time frame for giving an evaluation could cause evaluations to focus on superficial aspects of the speech. I totally agree that some Toastmasters are superb evaluators and are able to give useful, constructive feedback on the spot. All the best Olivia Hi Tulia
Thanks for your comment and sorry for my delay in replying (I’ve been travelling overseas).

I just checked back in my post and I don’t think that I said “immediate feedback is not good enough.” I said that the limited time frame for giving an evaluation could cause evaluations to focus on superficial aspects of the speech.

I totally agree that some Toastmasters are superb evaluators and are able to give useful, constructive feedback on the spot.
All the best
Olivia

]]> By: Ignore your Assigned Evaluator | World Champion Evaluator http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-6754 Ignore your Assigned Evaluator | World Champion Evaluator Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:20:48 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-6754 [...] After yesterday’s post, I spent a lot of time on Olivia Mitchell’s site, and found this gem about how to get the most out of Toastmasters. [...] [...] After yesterday’s post, I spent a lot of time on Olivia Mitchell’s site, and found this gem about how to get the most out of Toastmasters. [...]

]]> By: Tulia Lopes http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-6751 Tulia Lopes Sun, 20 Mar 2011 09:49:50 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-6751 Hi Olivia, Thanks for sharing some thoughtful information. However, regarding the Evaluation on the meeting, I wouldn't go so far saying that an "immediate feedback is not good enough"! I believe that is the great challenge for the evaluator/communicator, and once you practise being an evaluator over and over again, you can to develop a very sharp, structured and critical thinking in a short timeframe. I personally have seen people giving excellent feedbacks "on spot" after just one minute given to prepare it. And yes, if you want a more detailed evaluation on your speech/project you can always ask. Cheers and keep sharing. Tulia Lopes Prestigious Speakers Barcelona Hi Olivia,
Thanks for sharing some thoughtful information.
However, regarding the Evaluation on the meeting, I wouldn’t go so far saying that an “immediate feedback is not good enough”! I believe that is the great challenge for the evaluator/communicator, and once you practise being an evaluator over and over again, you can to develop a very sharp, structured and critical thinking in a short timeframe.
I personally have seen people giving excellent feedbacks “on spot” after just one minute given to prepare it.
And yes, if you want a more detailed evaluation on your speech/project you can always ask.
Cheers and keep sharing.
Tulia Lopes
Prestigious Speakers Barcelona

]]> By: The first five stages of speaker development http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-6649 The first five stages of speaker development Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:45:16 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-6649 [...] How to get the most out of Toastmasters There’s no such thing as the perfect presentation How to stop waffling once and for all Why your presentation shouldn’t flow How to prevent and recover from mind blanks [...] [...] How to get the most out of Toastmasters There’s no such thing as the perfect presentation How to stop waffling once and for all Why your presentation shouldn’t flow How to prevent and recover from mind blanks [...]

]]> By: Kevin Kane http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-6545 Kevin Kane Sun, 12 Dec 2010 03:05:07 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-6545 Thanks Olivia. 1. Just like speakers, evaluators can also make the mistake of going wide rather than deep: they give you an overview evaluation rather than a detailed evaluation. For example, they'll say, "Your body language and vocal variety was good. But you could do a little more of each." Well-intentioned advice, but not specific enough to be helpful. 2. On overcoming "um's" and other verbal bridges: Once I saw myself on video using the word "so" a lot, I planned better transitions for my next presentation. But I wouldn't have been aware of it if I hadn't seen it on video. Thanks Olivia.
1. Just like speakers, evaluators can also make the mistake of going wide rather than deep: they give you an overview evaluation rather than a detailed evaluation.

For example, they’ll say, “Your body language and vocal variety was good. But you could do a little more of each.” Well-intentioned advice, but not specific enough to be helpful.

2. On overcoming “um’s” and other verbal bridges: Once I saw myself on video using the word “so” a lot, I planned better transitions for my next presentation. But I wouldn’t have been aware of it if I hadn’t seen it on video.

]]> By: Olivia Mitchell http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-6539 Olivia Mitchell Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:39:26 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-6539 Hi Kevin I haven't been in Toastmasters for a long time, so I don't feel qualified to write a whole article on this subject. However, some quick opinions: 1. As an evaluator go deeper than the superficial aspects of body language and vocal variety. Was the content persuasive, was it backed up with evidence? etc. 2. I found the Grammarian role un-useful (there should be a better word, but I can't think of it). Counting someone's um's does not help them get rid of them! Olivia Hi Kevin
I haven’t been in Toastmasters for a long time, so I don’t feel qualified to write a whole article on this subject. However, some quick opinions:
1. As an evaluator go deeper than the superficial aspects of body language and vocal variety. Was the content persuasive, was it backed up with evidence? etc.
2. I found the Grammarian role un-useful (there should be a better word, but I can’t think of it). Counting someone’s um’s does not help them get rid of them!

Olivia

]]> By: Kevin Kane http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-6528 Kevin Kane Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:23:48 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-6528 Hi Olivia, Do you have any tips for Toastmasters when they're performing the various Toastmasters meeting roles -- Evaluator, General Evaluator, Grammarian, Toastmaster and Topics Master? What did you find were the best ways to do these roles? Maybe that's a whole 'nother article if you have the time. Thanks! Hi Olivia,

Do you have any tips for Toastmasters when they’re performing the various Toastmasters meeting roles — Evaluator, General Evaluator, Grammarian, Toastmaster and Topics Master?

What did you find were the best ways to do these roles?

Maybe that’s a whole ‘nother article if you have the time. Thanks!

]]> By: Olivia Mitchell http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-6472 Olivia Mitchell Mon, 29 Nov 2010 06:35:54 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-6472 Hi Kevin Thank you and I also enjoyed your article. Thanks for posting the link here. Olivia Hi Kevin
Thank you and I also enjoyed your article. Thanks for posting the link here.
Olivia

]]> By: Kevin Kane http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/presentation-philosophy/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-toastmasters/comment-page-1/#comment-6471 Kevin Kane Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:30:09 +0000 http://speakingaboutpresenting.com/?p=1256#comment-6471 Olivia, this is most fair, realistic and perceptive review of Toastmasters I have ever read. Like any organization, Toastmasters isn't perfect. But you've shown people how to make Toastmasters more perfect for them. In response to your article, I wrote about the two things I learned from you, the three troubling things about Toastmasters, and my two tips for Toastmasters at http://www.kevinkane.com/2010/11/how-to-make-sure-that-your-toastmasters-experience-doesnt-suck/ Olivia, thank you for another insightful article. Olivia, this is most fair, realistic and perceptive review of Toastmasters I have ever read.

Like any organization, Toastmasters isn’t perfect. But you’ve shown people how to make Toastmasters more perfect for them.

In response to your article, I wrote about the two things I learned from you, the three troubling things about Toastmasters, and my two tips for Toastmasters at http://www.kevinkane.com/2010/11/how-to-make-sure-that-your-toastmasters-experience-doesnt-suck/

Olivia, thank you for another insightful article.

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