STEP 1: Identify a Project With Internal Motivation
- What does the project entail? Describe the steps, needed materials, who is involved, etc.
The project that I am embarking is to master the skill of public speaking. Public speaking always enamored me since I was a child but had a terrible fright of speaking in front of a group of people. I almost faint when I need to get on to a stage even when there are no people in the audience! I am aware that I have intense stage fear and words fail me when I need to speak in front of a group of people. I have decided that I need to master this art if I am to be a successful person and be able to manage people effectively. The realization stems from the fact that effective communication is essential for any career situation and growth. Failure to communicate effectively would mean asphyxiation in career growth.
I need to do it one step at a time mastering each step and then progressing to the next, the way I see this project, the crucial steps would include:
- Mastering vocabulary
- Thought formation
- Practice speeches
- Speaking in front of group of family members / close friends
- Attempting stage speeches and approaching stranger groups.
The material that I would require for this project include a “Improving Vocabulary” book by Norman Lewis, daily television time, access to newspapers and time for reading them, a mirror to practice speeches and of course the support of family and friends to aide me accomplish my learning targets.
My immediate family and friends will be involved in this project and I will approach them once I have accomplished my learning targets in stage a, and b above.
- How is this project challenge oriented in terms of time, focus, and your capabilities?
This project is a challenge, especially in the dimensions that I will have to overcome certain inhibitions that I have grown up with. It will demand focus and will power to do so. I need to break older thinking patterns and challenge myself and my fears to meet this goal that will help me be successful in my career. I will need to devote about 4 hours initially and then the time needed may come down to about an hour. I will need to accomplish this over a period of six months or so and at the end of six months I see myself being able to successfully stand in front of a group or people or go on to a stage and be able to address people.
I can communicate well on a one-to-one basis but tend to get tongue-tied when it comes to speaking in front of a group of people. This is what I need to base my project on – ability to communicate and develop it from that point forward.
- How will you benefit from accomplishing this project?
The successful accomplishment of this project would mean that I will be a good public speaker and be able to communicate to large groups of people. Being an individual aspiring to work in the Human Resources function in the future this skill will help me in addressing groups of people which will contribute to my career progression.
- What part of the project intrigues you?
This project is a mental challenge and I need to be able to successfully accomplish these set of goals one step at a time. I get intrigued when I see people who are able to capture the attention of the audience and speak to them captivatingly, I want to be there and be able to do it one day. I am sure I will achieve this goal in the coming months.
- What weaknesses do you have that may impact your level of motivation? At what point in the project will this matter?
I know I am terribly frightened of the stage when I progress from speaking in front of the known groups and try to progress towards speaking in front of unknown people it will be a major challenge. Will I be able to motivate myself to do it? Will my fears get the better of me? I hope to overcome this fear and do it successfully.
- What strengths do you have that will support you in accomplishing this project?
The strength that will be the foundation for my public speaking ability is my good communication skills at an individual level. This means that I have the strong foundation required for the success of the project but I need to develop on it further.
This part of the assignment involves identifying environmental factors surrounding the project you identified in Step 1. Explain your answer in depth.
- What factors/circumstances are supportive to your motivation?
There is a strong motivation and high levels of internal efficacy that will drive me surely towards my goal. The strong need to be a successful HR professional drives the motivation. This is highly supportive towards my project. HR profession is a dream that has been part of me ever since my childhood and I want to be a successful one at that.
- What factors/circumstances might be inhibitors?
The fear of rejection and ridicule by immediate family and friends is the biggest inhibitor in achieving my goal. I live in the mortal fear that they could make fun of me and that could egg me towards giving up the project. This is the biggest and the only inhibitor in this project.
- Who in your environment will possibly be a positive influence?
My father is the biggest positive influencer. He knows that I have a deep craving to be a HR professional and has helped me identify areas for improvement. He is aware that I am planning to work on my public speaking abilities and is encouraging me to take one step at a time and not to fear failure or ridicule. He keeps saying that overcoming fear is the biggest victory and there is a lot of freedom beyond fear. He is a great source of inspiration for me and positive influence on me.
- Who in your environment will possibly be a negative influence?
My elder sibling – my elder brother who makes fun of me will be the most likely negative influence. He has mastered the public speaking skill. He is good at it and ridicules me always saying I am clumsy and inept. He creates the fear of failure in this specific area. Otherwise he is a great source of support to me as all elder brothers are I assume.
- How will you account for any adverse conditions so that you can complete your project?
In the project that I am embarking on there are no foreseeable adverse conditions just that my elder brother could be a damp squib. My father would help me out there and be of support to me and aide me complete the project successfully.
STEP 3: Analyze The Aspects of Flow
This part of the assignment deals with your mindset about the project. Make sure you explain your answers.
Expectancy/Self-Efficacy, Success Mindset
- Do you have high or low self-efficacy?
I have high self-efficacy for this project. I am driven by the need that this contributes largely to my career goal of being a successful HR professional and is unlikely to go down. I know I could fail, but that “Winners never quit and quitters never win” keeps me going, that is the spirit in me!
- What is your belief about your ability to succeed?
I will succeed there is no two ways about it. If I persist and keep going systematically I have no doubts that I will succeed. It is undoubted. If I have to be a successful career HR professional I need to master the public speaking skill, which I will. I will not fail. I might stumble, I have it in me to get up and keep running.
- Have you had prior successes in situations like this?
I remember being clumsy as a child. I would drop things, unable to hold things straight among many other such instances in my day-to-day life. I was ridiculed by my friends and even my elder brother used to poke fun at me occasionally. I remember me crying in my dad’s arms. He inspired me to learn and do things. I made up my mind and over a period of time overcame my clumsiness.
- Have you had prior failures in situations like this?
Not that I remember and recollect readily.
Internal Locus of Control Mindset
- What are your personal interests in accomplishing this project?
The accomplishment of this project contributes directly to the career success of being a good HR professional which is a deep seated desire and a career goal. This is my life ambition. This makes the locus of control deeply internal.
- What situational interests do you have?
This project does not strictly have any situational interests or immediate relevance. The relevance of this project is more long term and the impact is on a life goal and deep seated ambition.
Self Determination Mindset
- Who do you/will you listen to in support of your work towards completing this project?
I will look up to my father in accomplishing this project successfully. My father’s brother is a HR manager in a construction company and he is my role model. He speaks extremely well and holds the attention of the audience. He keeps the audience totally enthralled. My dad will be my predominant source of support.
- What reinforcements might you provide yourself to help you complete this project?
I have already pasted a picture of a HR office with an empty chair in my room. This is the chair I will sit in one day in the not so distant future. This will keep reinforcing the belief in myself and keep egging me towards doing things well.
Challenge Oriented Mindset
- Is this a challenge (mastery goal for self improvement, risks to self) or a competition-oriented project (e.g., performance/ego goal, risks for status of being a winner)? Explain your answer.
This is a mastery goal for self-improvement.
STEP 4: Reflect about this Project and Other Projects
- On an everyday basis, with which of the flow factors do you think you normally struggle? What is your plan to address these areas so you can be more flow-like more often? Explain your answer thoroughly. (Expectancy/Self-Efficacy, Internal Locus of Control, Self Determination, Challenge Oriented)
High levels of self-efficacy and internal locus of control are the two factors that will keep me flow-like. Since this project contributes directly to my life ambition I expect to be highly motivated and accomplish the target successfully.
