The Listening Master

What are your rewards for taking this role?

You can get three things from being the Listener.

1. A one minute prepared speech explaining your role and its goals at the beginning of the meeting.
2. Another three minutes of stage time.
3. Practice taking control of a fun-loving audience.

There are two reasons why we have this role on our agenda

1. The answers to your questions show the speakers if their speeches made an impact.

2. The third part of the evening needs a little splash – it is up to you to provide the entertainment.

How To – At the Beginning of the Meeting

Chose a seat that lets you access the stage easily.

The Listening Master –  just as any other functionary role – explains his/her role at the beginning of the meeting. It is a very brief introduction of no more than one minute.

You might mention the importance of listening, or describe it as a test of how well the speakers captivated their audience.

How To – During the Third Part of the Meeting

“Simply” go up on stage when asked by the General Evaluator, explain how you are going to proceed, and ask your questions from there.

You may stage a little competition (eg male vs female, left side of the room vs right side), make it insightful, or be a stickler for details. Try to ask at least one question about every prepared speech. You may include table topics, and everything else that was said during the meeting. Asking good questions needs excellent listening. Everything is fine, as long as you stay in time.

Do not expect to pose more than five to six questions.

The best way to do it, in my opinion: To ask the important questions. Do not look for words, but for messages. We learn speaking to get our messages across. Therefore, it is good to learn if our messages are remembered.

PS

Feedback helps us all grow. If you want feedback on your performance as the Listener, give the PDF “Feedback for the Listener” to another club member to evaluate you. Or tell another member upfront that you would like their feedback after the meeting.