Having a go + encouraging feedback breeds confidence?
Posted on July 28th, 2009 in Learning, Personal development, feedback, speaking | No Comments »
At the start of the speaking skills training workshop I ran yesterday I asked the participants to score out of 10 how confident they feel about speaking in public at the start of the day. As is often the case most people will score themselves below 5. At the end of the day I ask them to decide where they would score themselves at that point - and most will move themselves up - at least a few points.
In context of one day of training and in a box ticking feedback format this provides limited information - but it’s a start.
Speaking in public always scores highly in the top 10 things people dread doing. At the start of a workshop I am prepared for participants feeling varying degrees of nerves and start by asking them to introduce themselves. When we have done that I point out that they have already “made a speech” - they spoke - the audience listened!
In the next sessions I lead the feedback but as soon as possible I ask the other participants to contribute so that they all speak - and they are all invited to comment on what they noticed. Crucially this feedback starts with what they thought went well - giving specific examples (” you were great” is not helpful) and then some suggestions for what they might do differently the next time. I use this feedback model for all of the training I deliver and it never fails to surprise me how few people have used it before - and how much they like it when they give it a try!
The basis for the speaking skills workshops is to help participants establish are already doing well and build on that throughout the session - and to choose what to focus on for improvements in other areas.
In another context, when reading the reflective reports for the management students on the Edinburgh Napier University programme that I teach I was delighted to see that some had adopted this feedback model when trying out their new learning on their teams and that they were encouraged by the results.
We have loads of sayings which advocate persistence for success eg “You learn from your mistakes” and “You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet your prince” and even “If at first you don’t succeed try and try again”. Add to those a bit of focused encouragement and watch that confidence grow!
I would love to hear your stories and/or comments. Please share.