The General Evaluator has a key role at any Toastmasters meeting. The principle requirement is to evaluate all the speakers that were not already evaluated during the meeting. It is the General Evaluator that also provides an opinion on the overall running of the meeting. This is a really busy role as it requires concentration and careful listening for the entire duration of the meeting.
Getting started
- Ensure you arrive at the meeting about 10-15 minutes early so that you can evaluate how well the room is set up and how guests and club members are greeted.
- Sitting at the back can help you take a full picture view of all the speakers and meeting proceedings.
- If this is one of the first times you are doing this role, you may find it useful to print this checklist for reference during the meeting.
During the meeting
- Remember this is a busy role with potentially 10 or more people to evaluate. To keep your report precise and within the time limits, you will have to pick the two most important commendations and the most important recommendation for each speaker and deliver them in about one sentence each. In this role you have to be very brief and concise.
- Suggest an alternative that you think would have worked better with all recommendations.
- It helps to structure your notes according to the CRC method for each person you evaluate.
- When a speaker that you won’t be evaluating is speaking, use this time to prioritise your comments and delete anything other than 2 C’s and 1 R.
The report
- Evaluate speakers in the order of the programme. The checklist reflects the order of a typical meeting.
- Remember to deliver all evaluations in 3rd person.
- If club members have filled a role during the meeting for the first time, congratulate them on their efforts and be particularly supportive during the evaluation of their performance.
- If you think someone was made feel uncomfortable during the meeting (e.g. due to a harsh evaluation or a controversial speech) try to compensate for that. Address the situation in your report indicating what you think went wrong and how similar issues could be avoided in the future.
- Watch carefully the lights as it is very easy to go over time as General Evaluator.
The role of the General Evaluator is challenging and very busy. It is also a very important role as it sets the closing tone of the meeting. Club members and guests will remember your comments – make them positive and encouraging!
U-CAN-SPEAK 