Communication Improvement Plan

Problem: Immediately I start speaking in public, I experience anxiety and forget the main points I had planned to talk about. 

Goal: To participate more in public speaking and writing down the main points before getting to the stage

Procedure: I will seek to put more emphasis on improving my confidence in public speaking.

I will participate in major debates in schools taking the active role 

I will consider taking up the leadership positions 

In future, I will ensure that I rehearse well before the actual public speaking 

I will read more on public speaking to gain more skills and knowledge in the field. 

Test for achieving Goal: I will know that I have achieved my goal if I am able to speak in public confidently and being able to manage my anxiety. 

Reflection

The goal of communication is to convey information to the target audience. The public speaker must convey the message is a manner a confident manner, making the speech more interesting. The credibility of the speaker is measured by both the verbal and nonverbal communication. If the speaker has confidence issues, that might interfere with the ability to attract the attention of the audience. The speaker has to engage the audience during the presentation. Appealing to the emotions of the audience is also imperative during the presentation. A public speaker might not be able to appeal to the audience unless efforts are made to address the major weaknesses in public speaking. 

The communication improvement plan plays an important role in enhancing speaker’s communication skills. Communication improvement plan aims at the identification of the main problems facing the speaker. The speaker must be able to determine his/her main challenge in public speaking. It is difficult for a person to tell if he/she has communication problems unless he/she participates in public speaking. The identification of the problem is an important step towards becoming a good communicator. 

Setting clear goals about what needs to be done to solve the problem is equally important. The goal has to be clear and precise. In the communication improvement plan above, for instance, one of the goals is to participate more in public speaking. The goal is meant to address the challenge of stage flight, which interferes with the effectiveness of the public speaker. The goal has to be measurable and realistic. Taking part in more public speaking functions is a measurable goal. It is possible to tell the number of times one has participated in debates or any other function that requires speaking in public. Proper implementation of the goal will culminate into positive results. 

While setting the goals is important, it is equally vital to have clear steps on how such goals will be achieved. In above scenario, there about four major functions that will help me become a better public speaker. The specific procedures include taking part in debates, considering the leadership positions, and rehearsing prior to public speaking. Rehearsing assists in improving the confidence during the actual presentation. The reason is that one is already well acquainted with the content of communication. Through rehearsing, one is able to know how long the presentation will take and also assess one’s ability to convey the information. As a public speaker, it is important to participate in positions or functions that will sharpen one’s communication skills. Taking a leadership role opens an opportunity for one to communicate effectively. For instance, if one becomes a class representative, he/she will be expected to communicate from time to time about the new developments to the fellow students. The leadership position gives one confidence and the opportunity to learn more about public speaking. Additionally, it is important that one writes down the main points before going to the stage. Doing so allows one to refer to the points if one goes blank or forgets. Even among the most experienced public speakers, stage flight is common, especially if one has not prepared adequately. Knowledge about public communication is also vital. The knowledge is obtained through reading or interacting with great speakers. One can read or watch the presentation of various speakers that are renowned for their eloquence and expertise in public speaking. Learning and applying the communication skills through rehearsal helps one become more confident in the public communication. 

The monitoring and evaluation of the progress should be enhanced. The final step in the communication improvement plan is being able to assess whether one has achieved the goals. One can do it by himself or appoint another person within the audience to do it. For instance, I plan to request my friend assess monitor my presentation and make any observations. The evaluation process plays a vital role in establishing whether one has been able to achieve the goals. That is important because one is able to make necessary changes if there is no positive change. One is able to assess the practicability of the goals and the specific procedures. 

The public speaking also involves the application of various communication theories. In the scenario above, the uncertainty reduction theory is the most applicable. The uncertainty reduction theory indicates the importance of understanding one’s audience in terms of demographic factors. The main importance of understanding the behavior of the audience is being able to predict their behavior. Additionally, one is able to know what kind of a topic to talk about. For instance, if one is speaking to a group of college students, topics touching on relationships, sexuality, drugs and substance abuse, and career choices would be imperative. Understanding one’s audience can assist in reducing the anxiety during the actual presentation. One already knows what the audience expects and how they are going to react when the information is conveyed. 

The audience adaptation is equally important in public communication. The aim is to tailor the message so that it addresses matters of interest to the audience. The speaker should understand the needs of the target audience. That is the reason why the prior knowledge about the audience is important. The effectiveness of the communication will also be determined by the ability to apply the persuasive communication techniques. One needs to connect with the audience. That means that one has to appeal to the audience’s emotions by being credible and logic. Talking about the actual needs of the audiences improves the relationship between them and the speaker. The audience will be more engaged and interested in whatever the speaker is saying. 

Script 

I greet you all. I am here to talk about something that I think is of interest to you. I…I think that you all know that global warming is a major problem globally. As students, you have a responsibility to control global warming. I know you are asking, how we can play an active role. I say that there are ways which you can use to contribute to environmental conservation. I will address a number of ways in which you as college students can contribute to environmental protection. 

Number one, please, ensure that you participate in the afforestation process. Environmental experts say that vegetation cover assists in absorbing greenhouse gases, which cause global warming. I know you can join the environmental conservationists in your community. The conservation of the existing vegetation is also important. As the members of the community, you have a role in sensitizing the community against destroying the environment. 

Secondly, students can contribute to environmental conservation by saving energy. I know some of you are wondering about the relationship between energy conservation and environmental protection. I want to tell you that the relationship exists. You see, most of the power you use in your homes is produced using diesel. I think you all know that burning disease pollutes the environment. Therefore, if you want to minimize the pollution, conserve energy. You can begin by saving the energy in your smartphones. You can optimize most of the applications in your phones to save energy. In your homes, ensure that you do not leave power on when you are not using it. By doing so, you will be indirectly contributing to the conservation of environment. 

Finally, I want to inform you that environmental pollution is really causing adverse effects. The global warming is associated with major disasters such as tsunamis and hurricanes. The unpredictable weather conditions have also had a negative effect in the…in agricultural sector. Hunger and famine in most countries has been linked to global warming. Therefore, you now know why the environmental conservation is an urgent matter. Finally, I want to remind you that even if you do not feel the effects of global warming now, you will later. Thank you very much for listening. 

In conclusion, effective public speaking is enhanced by addressing the main problems that hamper effective communication. The communication improvement plan plays an imperative role in enhancing one’s communication skills. Setting the measurable and realistic goals on how to address the problem is vital. It is equally important to have specific procedures on how the goals will be achieved. The monitoring and evaluation plays a vital role in assessing any positive improvement. The achievement of the goals demonstrates that one has succeeded in addressing the main challenge. Understanding the demographic factors of the target population is equally important. Apart from helping one to know the most appropriate topics to talk about, the knowledge of the audience assists in reducing the anxiety. Rehearsal, participating in more public speaking events, and accumulating more knowledge on public speaking is important in becoming a better public speaker.