Page 18 - Voices-2022-02

FROM THE WINGS

Right vs Nice

PJ Kleffner, DTM - Immediate Past District Director

I like to be right, and I suppose most people point of order when conducting business under
feel the same way. However, being right isn’t parliamentary procedure, the Toastmaster (or
always the best course of action. The tricky part any speaker) should not be interrupted.

is knowing when to hold onto your position, or If part of the normal meeting routine is
let it go. Imagine the following scenario, which omitted, it is not the end of the world. It is up
should be easy to do, because I see it happen to the General Evaluator to provide feedback to
fairly often: the Toastmaster during the overall evaluation

The Toastmaster is introducing the next of the meeting. In this context, the feedback
speaker and you hear that little voice in the back is totally appropriate, and not perceived as an
of your head shouting, “Wait, you didn’t ask attack. In the spirit of keeping our meetings a
the Evaluator to read the objectives!” Then you safe and nurturing place to learn, let’s tell those

realize that it was YOU shouting “Wait, you didn’t inner voices to sit down and be quiet, and let the
ask the Evaluator to read the objectives!” The Toastmaster and General Evaluator do their jobs.
Toastmaster regains his composure, even though Zoom changed a lot of what we do in
it is his first time filling the Toastmaster role. The Toastmasters, and some of the changes are

Speaker is distracted by the interruption but she actually positive. For example, in the above
recovers and delivers her speech. Visitors are now scenario, you can discreetly send a private
in shock and refuse to speak, afraid they might chat to the Toastmaster so they can circle back
do something wrong and be verbally attacked. to anything they skipped in the meeting. It is

Unfortunately, I’ve seen this scenario unfold also easy to record your speech and go back
in a number of meetings, and have even done it to review it for a very real, and sometimes
myself. One day, I saw a better way to handle this uncomfortable learning experience. I also don’t
in a Club that has very experienced members. miss the one-hour round trip commute to my

During the evaluation phase of the meeting, weekly meeting.
the experienced General Evaluator mentioned On the flip side, human beings aren’t perfect,
that the Toastmaster is in charge of running and neither is technology. Those of us who grew
the meeting. With the exception of raising a up with in-person meetings never dreamed we’d

18 ONE COMMUNITY