For a public speaker, there are two ways to fame. One through the sizzling flamboyance on the stage. Other through the heart of the audience.
It was a balmy Saturday afternoon. I looked at the speaker rubbing his hands – ready to go up to the stage. Tried to read his body language. Drops of sweat on the forehead, he was edgy and anxious. He was the next speaker and I was to evaluate him.
“Forgotten Friendship” – next seven minutes belonged to the speaker. The electrifying passion was in the air.
Watching a speaker in action is an evaluator’s delight. Just as you love getting into evaluator’s zone every time someone steps on to the stage, the meta-content is subtitled in your evaluating mind as you gobble the speech frame after frame. And I was ready with pen and paper too. Four minutes into the speech, there was an undeniable change in me. Restlessness – probably yes. Conciliatory – not sure.
After seven minutes, as I started my synthesis, I felt that feeling again. Like all emotions, it was naggingly sticky. I took a deep breath and focused on the points noted. When a speaker changes your perspective, you know your mind has changed its configuration since you started listening to the speech. A supposedly objective evaluator has become subjective.
Sometimes when a speaker touches a part of us, we know that the speaker has sneaked into our heart. We like to take away the message and a part of speaker with us. I sat through his speech to analyse him and to make an attempt to inspire him so that he comes back stronger next time. Evaluate to inspire!
Now the speaker inspired me and I resolve to come back stronger as an evaluator…and more importantly as part of an expectant audience. Inspired to listen and evaluate! In just seven minutes. A life-changing seven minutes for a Toastmaster.
Thanks,
–Samit