Table Topics Evaluator

The Table Topics Evaluator has an unenviable task – to listen to 5-7 mini speeches and deliver feedback to all the speakers a few minutes later. As Table Topics Evaluator you’ll want to focus on what you can cover in the time slot, rather than what you can’t.

Speaking time

6-minute evaluation of all Table Topic speakers.

Before the Meeting

Remember that whether you’ve given one speech or one hundred, your feedback/ observations are as valid as anyone else’s – be confident in that.

At the Meeting

• When it comes to the Table Topic slot, pay your full and undivided attention to all the Table Topic speeches;
• Note down whatever stands out to you – think about;
  • Pace/speed of delivery (too fast/too slow)
  • Vocal variety (varied/appropriate/too little)
  • Gestures (varied/appropriate/frantic)
  • Stage movement (aimless pacing or carefully planned)
  • Eye contact (strong/varied/throughout audience/reading notes)
  • Audience engagement (reading from notes/complete focus on audience)
  • Audience interaction (no interaction/asking questions/involving volunteers)
  • Rhetorical devices
  • Use of props or visual aids
  • Clarity of voice
  • Volume of voice
  • Energy
• After the speeches, spend some time organising your thoughts – there are lots of approaches to delivering feedback, but be sure to balance recommendations with commendations;
• Due to time constraints you won’t have as long as the full speech evaluations – focus on one strong commendation and one helpful recommendation;
• Adjust your approach to the speaker – new speakers will need more encouragement so try focusing on one recommendation, whereas seasoned speakers will appreciate more detailed, analytical areas for improvement;
• After the Timekeepers report and vote for Best Table Topics, you’ll be brought up by the Toastmaster to give your evaluation;
• Speak in third-person “Alex did this very well, Alex could improve on this next time” rather than direct “Alex you did this very well, you could improve on this next time”;
• Be considerate of word choice, tone and delivery – don’t talk about what was good and bad about a speech, for instance, focus on positives – even recommendations should be framed as positives!
• Don’t spend all your time rehashing the content of the speech – try to dig down to analytical feedback rather than superficial quotes from the person’s speech;
• After your evaluation, remember to provide written feedback to the speakers, and note anything you couldn’t quite get to in your full evaluation.