Am I worthy to be a judge?

We've probably all had a moment when we've been asked to judge one thing or another and we've stopped to ask ourselves the question, "Am I worthy to be a judge?" Even as a lawyer, a speaker and public speaking coach, I had to ask myself that question when I was asked to judge the #toastmasters Area Speech Contest for the International English Speaking Contest for the Toastmasters clubs in the Marbella/Malaga/Gibraltar on Saturday.

I applaud those who put themselves forward to participate in speech contests (or any competition) as there are lots of fears they must overcome to stand before the judges including:

❎ Fear of #publicspeaking - some even see it as a fate worse than death.

❎ Fear of failure: will I forget my speech, stumble, freeze?

❎ Fear of being judged: will they think I’m good enough?

That’s why I felt so privileged to be asked to join the judging panel for the contest. Although mine was the easy part, compared with that of the contestants, even as a speech coach it made me reflect on my ability to be a speech contest judge.

After my self-reflection, I thought I would set out my thoughts about being a speech contest judge. Some of the lessons are also transferable to other life situations in which you are asked to be a judge. So, in no particular order, here are my thoughts about the things you need to be able to judge a speech contest effectively. 

✅ The first thing is to remain neutral and unbiased throughout the contest. This is not always easy to achieve. Can you ever be truly objective when judging any kind of contest? Probably not! But you should avoid any personal biases or preconceived notions that may influence your judgment. Listen to each speaker with an open mind, without any prejudice or favouritism.

✅ Before the contest, make sure you are familiar with the judging criteria. Most speech contests have standard criteria such as content, delivery, language, and overall impact. You should understand what each criterion means and how to evaluate it. This will help you to be more objective.

✅ Pay attention to the message of the speech. Is it clear, concise, and well-structured? Does the speaker convey their ideas effectively? Does the message resonate with the audience? A good speech should have a clear message that is delivered in a compelling and engaging way.

✅ The delivery of a speech is just as important as the message. Evaluate the speaker's tone, pace, and volume. Do they use appropriate body language and gestures to emphasise their points? Is the speech engaging and captivating? A good delivery should enhance the message and keep the audience engaged throughout the speech.

✅ The language and grammar of a speech can have a significant impact on the overall impression. Evaluate the speaker's use of language, including their vocabulary, syntax, and grammar. Does the speaker use appropriate language for the audience? Are they using too much jargon for the audience they are speaking to? Is the speech well-structured and easy to follow?

✅ The overall impact of a speech is also important to consider. Did the speech leave a lasting impression on the audience? Did it inspire, motivate, or persuade the audience? The impact of a speech is determined by how well the message is delivered, and how effectively it resonates with the audience.

Judging a speech contest can be a rewarding experience if done correctly. I certainly enjoyed it, even if I found it a bit nerve wracking! Would I agree with the other judges? So many thoughts go through your mind. It was made more difficult because the contestants were all so good! It was quite a close call. But they were all winners on the night. How many of us would put ourselves forward? For doing that, a thousand congratulations to all of them. You are all winners!