Speaking "Secrets" Revealed: Evaluate All Speakers, Simon Cowell Style

<h1>Speaking "Secrets" Revealed: Evaluate All Speakers, Simon Cowell Style</h1>

by Eric Feng

<div align=justify>One of the fastest (and fun!) way you can grow as a speaker is to be an active audience. Evaluate ALL speakers that come your way, Simon Cowell style! This is how you can have a clearer understanding of what separates a mediocre speaker from a good speaker, and a great speaker from a phenomenal speaker. Remember this: No matter how good or bad the speaker is, there is always something valuable to learn. This is so important that I am going to repeat it. 
 
No matter how good or bad the speaker is, there is always something valuable to learn. 
 
Remember all the positive things that the speaker does and try it for size. See if it works for you. 
 
Remember all the negative things that the speaker does and avoid it at all costs. Sometimes, you may want to ask yourself how you can modify and make it effective. 
 
All of us - at some degree - evaluate speakers. We hear them all the time: “This guy is awesome!” or “Look at how he charmed the audience…” or “Gosh, he should not have crack this joke.” etc. However these evaluations are not thorough enough to offer much teaching value. They are merely observations. In order for us to learn to be better speakers, we have to probe deeper. Question your reactions to the speakers. What the speaker do/not do to make us think he is awesome? How did the speaker charmed you? Why do you think the joke is inappropriate? By asking these questions, you will then have a deeper understanding of the speaker’s motives and also objectively evaluate (as the audience) if it is effective. 
 
I have an extremely simple way to evaluate any speaker - Use the 5W and H. Pay full attention to the speaker and his delivery. And then ask yourself the following questions: 
 
[WHAT] 
What did the speaker do that you like/dislike? What are the speakers’ strengths and weaknesses? What are the speaker’s strategies? What causes the speaker to be successful (or not)? 
 
[HOW] 
How did these strengths/weaknesses manifest itself in the delivery? How effective are the speakers’ strategies? How can the speaker improve? How can the speaker better himself? 
 
[WHY] 
Why did this aspect of the speech puts you off/appeals to you? Why do you think the speaker select this approach/style/topic? 
 
[WHO] 
Who is his target audience? Who will benefit from the speaker’s speech/style? 
 
[WHEN] 
When was the last time you have heard a similar speech? 
 
[WHERE] 
Where in the speech did the speaker create the most impact? Where in the speech were you lost/mesmerized? 
 
Notice all the 5W and 1H can help you generate a whole list of questions? However there is no way you can have answers for all these questions by listening to the speech once (unless you have a photographic memory). What you can do though is to record the speech so that we can re-listen to it and uncover more learning points. Having said that I would recommend that you start with three questions: 
 
1. What did the speaker did well or badly? 
2. How can I apply the good points into my speech? 
3. How can I avoid making the same mistakes that speaker made? 
 
Simpler? 
 
As you proceed on, you will find yourself automatically looking our for strengths and weaknesses in the speaker. When you become more comfortable, you can delve deeper and begin disecting the speech. You will find youself welcoming ALL speakers even the extremely boring ones coz there will always be something to learn! You will find your growth as a speaker accelerating. You avoid mistakes committed by others. You get to experiment stuff that works. You have more chance to make new mistakes which means more room for growth! Too good to be true right? Believe it! 
 
And more importantly, start doing it. Speakers are everywhere. They can be your daily reporter, lecturer, classmate, supervisor, door salesman, telemarketer etc. The world is your classroom! 
 
Oh one more thing, remember to jot down your evaluations somewhere. You may want to start a journal or even a blog. Whatever it is, write them down so that you can reference them in future when you prepare your next speech. Come to think of it, we should have some kind of Speakers’ Idol! 
 
 
This is one part of a series of eight articles entitled "Unleash The Speaker In You- Eight Ways To Become A Better Speaker". Get the other tips <a href="http://www.ericfeng.com/home/unleash.htm">here</a></div>

Article source: <a href="http://www.ArticlePros.com/writing_and_speaking/Public-Speaking/article-68651.html">ArticlePros.com</a>
 
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		About the author
		Eric Feng is one of the youngest international certified coach and a celebrated Toastmasters both in Singapore and Philadelphia. He won the International Humor Contest at Division Level in 2005. He has been training over 2500 students (ranging from primary to tertiary levels) and adults from corporate organizations extensively. If you are keen to gain insightful and easy-to-apply tips on public speaking, check out his <a href="http://blog.ericfeng.com">blog</a>
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