Public Speaking is an area in which I lack confidence and wish to improve on in the future. In order to fully understand this, I will be following Kolb’s Reflective Cycle. Kolb’s Reflective Cycle has four main points in order to help people reflect on their experiences and how to improve.
Concrete Experience:
Public speaking has always been an issue, I become very nervous when having to speak in front of other people in a professional setting. This was especially prevalent when recently presenting a PowerPoint presentation for a group project surrounding a research proposal. When it came to my parts to speak, I became very nervous and rushed through my speech, and my body language became very defensive.
Reflective Observation:
Although I had thoroughly prepared for the presentation, both independently and with my group, I still felt pressured to deliver a perfect performance. The people who we were proposing our research to commented on how fast I had delivered my parts of the presentation and demonstrated their concerns on how they had not been able to fully digest the information due to it being rushed. After the presentation and feedback had concluded, I debriefed with the rest of my group and we each indicated our own faults, and those of others, and everyone else in the group also pointed out my inability to speak confidently and professionally in public.
Abstract Conceptualisation:
From this experience, I can conclude that I may need to practice speaking professionally and publicly in order to build my confidence. I can do this by taking some LinkedIn courses surrounding public speaking and how to convey professionalism through my body language, whether this be in person or virtually.
Active Experimentation:
In the future, when I am faced with public speaking again, I will ensure to take a course prior to the event that will help me to build my confidence. I will convey professionalism through my body language, and the speed and tone of my voice, and utilise the tips that are provided in the course. Also, I will thoroughly prepare, by ensuring that I have conducted extensive and relevant research. This will help me to speak confidently, as I will have the evidence to support my claims.
By using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle, I have been able to identify my personal weakness of Public Speaking, investigate how to improve this and I know my next steps should the occasion arise again.
Hints and Tips: There is a course for everything and anything these days, so if you are lacking confidence in a certain area, be sure to check online to see if there is anything to provide some handy tips.
Megan Curbishley.
Reference List:
Petkus, E., 2000. A Theoretical and Practical Framework for Service-Learning in Marketing: Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle. Journal of Marketing Education, 22(1), pp.64-70.
