Feedback is a gift

“Feedback should always be accepted for what it is – a gift. Too often; though, it’s deployed as a weapon. Deliver it with care, accept it with appreciation. Anne Buckley, a long term member of Speakeasy Toastmasters, describes the value of positive feedback as part of the toastmasters meeting. Effective constructive feedback is critical to most areas of our lives, but is particularly critical to the lifeblood of Toastmaster meetings. Feedback or evaluation as it is called is what keeps members coming back to meetings and prevents the onset of mental rust and complacency. It is equally important for new members as they depend on evaluations for information, help and development. The process of evaluation separates Toastmasters International from other organisations offering public speaking or speech coaching. Criticism is easy; we hear it all the time, in every walk of life. Criticism is negative. Being critical almost sounds like a put down. Evaluation on the other hand considers the value and adds positivity as well as offering helpful solutions for improvement. As speakers we all need helpful and appropriate suggestions. Clearly evaluators; the people giving feedback play a vital role in Toastmasters. The evaluator needs to find words of praise for the good elements of the speech and offer words of help and encouragement in identifying areas for improvement. To give the best review you can, it is important to consider the speakers goals as well as the official evaluation guide. It is important to praise the aspects of the speech that were particularly good and explain why as well as to offer your suggestions and provide examples as to how these changes could be made. Evaluators must always remember that these suggestions are their own personal opinion and others may not necessarily agree with them. Some people are hesitant to give feedback particularly if they feel the speaker has more experience then they themselves do but remember that this is your own opinion and too many members discount the value of their own ideas. As we get used to listening to speeches we develop critical thinking skills and we hear at a much deeper level hence it is easier to analyse a particular presentation or assignment. I certainly remember my first evaluation and the constructive feedback I received in those early days helped me remedy my many nervous reactions. Our Toastmasters Mallow branch has a warm, friendly atmosphere and our members have found that they overcame nerves, gained tremendous confidence and assertiveness and were able to motivate their fellow workers. We all live in a very hectic busy world. Between family, work and social commitments, it is easy to get exhausted and believe professional development, communication skills and gaining confidence is a mammoth task. This is not the case. Why not come along to a Toastmaster meeting and see if it is for you? If you are looking to improve your speaking and leadership skills, meet new people or just come for a new experience, you’ve come to the right place! For those of you who may still be slightly hesitant about paying us a visit, I will leave you with a short poem; Come To The Edge.....Come to the edge ......Life said.....We might fall ............they said, Come to the edge ......Life said..... It’s too high COME TO THE EDGE And they came, And Life pushed them, And they flew. A version; original by Christopher Logue. Speakeasy toastmasters next meets at 8pm Hibernian Mallow every other Thursday, next meeting is on Nov 15th. Guests are most welcome and are never asked to speak. Contact Jerry 0863752895,or Noel 0872427485. "Follow us on Facebook "Speak Easy Toastmasters", on Twitter "@speakeasytm" and on our blog "http://speakeasytm.blogspot. www.speakeasytoastmasters.com