After several times of rescheduling and changing of restaurants, we finally made our monthly gathering yesterday, the 31st of March. Gladly, six out of seven made it and we we had quality time at 麻布茶坊 enjoying gourmet food and sharing our reflections on Toastmasters magazine February issue from 12:00 pm to 14:30pm.
It seems that time was too short for us to bring up all our questions and share our reflections on the three articles we chose. Yet, thinking that we all had read it and given it a deep thought, it was still a very enlightening program as we expected. To keep track of every our delightful and intellectual gathering, I would like to jog down the conclusion we made within less-than-an-hour's sharing:
Michelle: Evaluation requires recommendation plus encouragement. If we couldn't find anything in the speaker's speech at first, still remember to be positive and look for their assets/strengths to encourage before giving your recommendations to the speaker.
Linda: We have to listen attentively in order to understand the speaker better and give more constructive and meaningful suggestions.
Irene: Self evaluation is a way to ensure constant improvement.
Lydia: Absorb and support everyone's reflection, didn't get her turn to speak up due to the limited time. Next time we will let her to express her reflection first.
Sherry: Enjoy very much the article "3 points to keep your evaluation on target" written by Shelia Spencer, DTM, and further elaborate the expression "to distinguish between objective observation and subjective interpretation of what we see and hear." She challenged us all a question, too, "how should the advanced speaker react when being challenged?"
Trini: We need to bear in mind what DTM Shelia Spencer said, "we use our minds to fomulate recommendations that address what is necessary. We use our hearts to provide encouragement and sustain the kind and supportive environment that nurtures us all." From Trini's personal experience of being kicked many times, we can comfort ourselves with a sentence in the article "Do you Dread Receiving an Evaluation?" written by James Clark, DTM on page 13 last paragraph, when being evaluated unprofessionally, "all of us from time to time can expect to feel some sting from feedback. Such is life. ...We benefit by developing a thicker skin ...."
To avoid the trouble trying to fit our gathering in everyone's schedule, we decided to fix 4/14 for next gathering on spot, and that's final. We will have longer time for everyone to share her reflections on the articles we chose as we are invited by Jo Shih, the President of China Toastmasters Club's President, to her sweet home for lunch. It's scheduled from 12:30 to 17:00 pm including clogging practice. We may stay longer if necessary. How exciting! Trini
1 comment:
I read a couple of letters to compliment Shelia Spencer's "3 Points to Keep Your Evaluation on Target" in Letters to the Editor, March issue. I thank Linda for picking up the good article for us to share on March the 31st.
I have a more ambitious proposal in mind for you to take into considerations in the future. How about we have our monthly reading gathering the first Satruday afternoon? We can have time to send our comments to Toastmasters Magazine, and it would be nice for people to know our group reading activities of the Toastmasters magazine, and share our thoughts with fellow members around the globe.
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