Lesson 50: Self-Assessment – Refining Your Speaking Through Structured Reflection
“We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.” — John Dewey
Why Self-Assessment Matters
Delivering your speech is not the final step—it’s a beginning. Real progress happens when you observe yourself through an objective lens. Structured self-review deepens awareness, highlights blind spots, and creates a foundation for lasting improvement.
By developing the habit of critical but constructive reflection, you learn to coach yourself, strengthening not only your technique but also your confidence and adaptability.
How to Review Your Speech
Begin by watching your recorded talk in full. Then, watch it a second time with this checklist in hand. Pause frequently, take notes, and assess yourself with clarity and honesty.
Approach this task with a mindset of growth. Be critical, but supportive. You are not grading your performance—you’re shaping it.
Self-Evaluation Checklist with Practical Examples
1. My speech followed a logical and memorable structure
Did your talk have a clear opening, middle, and ending? Were your transitions smooth and purposeful?
Example: Starting with a personal anecdote, progressing through three clear supporting points, and ending with a call to action.
2. I used a strong hook and a purposeful conclusion
Did you capture attention in the first 10 seconds? Did your final sentence resonate?
Example: “What if I told you the way you breathe could change the way you lead?” followed by: “Now it’s your turn—stand tall, speak clearly, and lead with purpose.”
3. I varied my tone and pacing to reflect meaning
Was your delivery dynamic and emotionally appropriate? Did you speed up or slow down with intention?
Example: Using a lower pitch and slower pace to emphasize: “This… changed… everything.”
4. I minimized filler words and used pauses intentionally
Did you reduce verbal fillers like “um,” “uh,” “like,” or “so”? Did you allow moments of silence to create emphasis?
Example: Replacing a filler with a pause to allow your point to land: “That’s why clarity… matters.”
5. My posture and eye contact reflected confidence
Were you grounded, balanced, and engaged? Did your eye contact feel intentional and inclusive?
Example: Standing tall with open shoulders and rotating eye contact naturally among audience zones.
6. My gestures and expressions supported my message
Did your hands, face, and body amplify what you said—or were they distracting or static?
Example: Using your hands to outline key points or to illustrate contrast between ideas.
7. My voice was clear, projected, and supported by breath
Could your audience hear you without effort? Did your voice remain strong throughout?
Example: Using diaphragmatic breathing for volume control and vocal stamina.
8. I would be engaged if I were in the audience
If you were in the audience, would you want to keep listening? Was your delivery personal, clear, and connected?
Self-check tip: Watch your speech once with audio only (to assess tone and voice), then once with video only (to evaluate presence and movement).
Reflective Exercise: Analyzing Your Growth as a Speaker
Now that you’ve completed your speech and reviewed your performance through a structured self-assessment, take a moment to step back and reflect on your overall development.
Write a short reflection (5–8 sentences) addressing the following questions:
Which aspect of your delivery improved most significantly throughout this course? (e.g., pacing, posture, tone, structure)
What moment during your recording made you feel most confident or authentic?
Where did you notice hesitation or disconnect—and what might have caused it?
How did it feel to evaluate your own performance using objective criteria?
What is one behavior you’re committed to improving in your next speech, and how will you work on it?
Be honest but constructive—this reflection is not about judgment, but insight. The goal is to better understand how your skills are evolving and where your greatest opportunities for refinement lie.
What to Do Next
After completing your review, identify two to three personal improvement goals. Choose goals that are clear, realistic, and measurable.
Examples of improvement goals:
Reduce filler words by inserting pauses instead.
Slow down pacing during complex ideas.
Reinforce conclusions with stronger vocal emphasis and deliberate gestures.
These goals will serve as your foundation for the next step—learning how to give yourself focused and actionable feedback using the FBI model (Feedback–Behavior–Impact).
