Positions and Practice – Draft Oral Presentation Reflection
This last week presented me with the opportunity to present my draft oral presentation to our tutor and my peers.
In the run up to the session on Thursday, the task overwhelmed me. As a teacher, preparing and presenting my work didn’t bother me, but making sure that I pitched my work at the correct level did. Time for my perfectionist tendency to rear its ugly head!
Figure 1: Steve Seay
I know where my practice has come from and how it has been shaped. I understand the development I have been through and where I am going. I am able to objectively critic my practice.
So why the concern over the presentation? The issue comes with letting others see what could be unfinished work! Crazy, I know. The whole point of the exercise is to get feedback so that it will be easier to finalise and record the oral presentation.
The cause of my perfectionism? I am very passionate about improving and giving my best to everything I do, particularly this course. I want to take the opportunities given to me and to do my absolute best with it, without compromise or excuse. Not a bad reason to be a perfectionist.
This week was good for me as whilst I ended up presenting a near finished version of my presentation, there were errors and a ‘missing link’. I knew this before I presented. In order to develop further and benefit more from the feedback of others, I am having to learn to work through my issues and try to dial down my perfectionist tendencies, particularly the negative aspects.
Like my project, I am a work in progress.
REFERENCE
Figure 1: From Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.. 2016. OCD Perfectionism: Perfectionist or OCD Sufferer? | Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.steveseay.com/perfectionism-ocd-symptoms-perfectionist/. [Accessed 30 October 2016].