Topic 9 DQ 1

One of my strengths regarding professional presentations is good communication. Having good communication will allow me to engage with my audience, get them interested and give them a reason to listen. One way I can continue to build this strength is by becoming comfortable with sharing my personal experiences. My presentation is on increasing breastfeeding support through increasing nurse knowledge on the benefits of breastfeeding. I myself have two children, and had completely different breastfeeding experiences. With my second child, I was better educated and was able to seek support to which this allowed me to successfully exclusively breastfeed. Humans are programs to respond to stories. Telling stories is a compelling way of presenting because humans relate to them, they have the power to engage the audience, evoke empathy, increase trust and motivate action (Barnard, 2018).
One of my weaknesses regarding professional presentations would be that I must prepare well for a presentation for if I don’t then I will easily stumble on my own words. When I start to stumble, I start using words like “um” or use my hands too much and then anxiety kicks in. Fear of public speaking or public speaking anxiety is known as glossophobia. There are a number of strategies that can be used to cope with speech anxiety and become better at public speaking in general for example pre-performance planning, practice and visualization and setting goals (Cuncic, 2021). Rehearsing my presentation many times to adjust order and timing can give me the practice and confidence I need to avoid stumbling.
Identifying strengths and weakness will allow me to improve on my future presentations. When presenting in a formal setting you want to make sure your presentation is effective enough to get through to your audience and that they can use the information you are presenting. This is also a good leadership skill that can ultimately lead to personal success or the success of the organization you are working with.
Discuss one personal strength and one weakness you have regarding professional presentations. Name one method for improvement for each of these and discuss why it is important for you to work on these skills if you want to present your findings in a more formal setting.

Using 200-300 words APA format with at least two references. Sources must be published within the last 5 years. There should be a mix between research and your reflections. Add critical thinking in the posts along with research. Apply the material in a substantial way.