Page 39 - April 2020
P. 39
Grow Your Members with Empathic Evaluations
Dave Bones, ACS, CL
• SUPPORT—The third characteristic
very good. The speaker could be is perhaps the most important - an
left demoralized and not clear how evaluation offered with supportive intent.
to take action to improve. This is what fosters and elevates the
Instead, describe the positive growth of the speaker. This is where the
value that you are looking for. In magic happens! The evaluator becomes
the example above, an evaluator a collaborator with the speaker to help
might offer the following wording. them enhance their presentation, with
“I was noticing that you had a the shared value of personal growth.
quieter quality to your voice It is this empathic evaluation style that
during that one section of your enables a club culture to be based on
speech. I was wondering if some supportive growth. It is also what fosters
additional volume might help a virtuous cycle of current member
to drive your message home, satisfaction and personal success.
where the audience could even
more clearly hear your words.” Evaluation has been the single most
Or, “I noticed that you were important skill I have learned in Toastmasters.
wanting to be very precise with Not only have I noticed this auspicious effect in
your wording, looking down at my Toastmasters clubs, but also professionally
your notes. I was wondering if and personally. I have seen the same repeatedly
adding more eye contact, perhaps from fellow Toastmasters, in their own stories.
pausing between paragraphs Empathic evaluation is the most important
periodically during sections of characteristic of a flourishing Toastmasters club.
your speech, might add more Together, each meeting, we can set the climate
connection with your audience.” for continued growth.
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VOICES! | APRIL 2020 39
