After surviving the 2 close deadlines and getting marks that I was really really pleased with and some really useful targeted feedback I am feeling quite positive about the next module. Although I am really nervous about the exhibition module I feel that through reading the discussions, the hotseat and the module guidance I am relatively clear on what I am meant to be doing.

I have a real concern about how to pitch my exhibition. Because the research focus is developing my job role I am worried that it will come across as a self glorification exercise, so I need to work out how to meet the objectives of the exhibition and make it clear through the styling of the exhibition that the purpose is to show what I have learned, and I think for me that means clearly showing the organisational benefit from my research. I also know that a large space with display boards just isn't going to be possible in my workplace over the next couple of months so I need to be innovative in working out how to demonstrate all that I need to in a relatively concise way.

I know that I really want to steer away from a powerpoint display, as although they have their place, in my pilot carrying it out made me quite nervous and i felt that I became too scripted by the need to run through the presentation. I am thinking more along the lines of a document that I can sit down with the audience and go through and discuss, as a key learning over the development of my role has been that one of my strengths is in talking to and engaging people.

This happened at a critical event last week. I had to attend a high level meeting and explain to some high level people what I felt they needed to do and why. Instead of just talking off the cuff or with a powerpoint presentation,I prepared a brief handout (which had started life as my notes to myself to refer to while talking as I needed to make a clear point to the audience),so that they could read and refer back to the key points being made and ask questions as and whenthey wanted to.

I found that this approach not only made me less nervous, but  I also felt part of a discussion which put me at ease, rather than being stood up at the front "presenting" my ideas and worrying that they had kept up with what I was saying and trying to judge if they were keeping up/interested in what I was saying.

I had to have 2 individual meetings with 2 members of the group as a follow up and they both commented that in presenting to them in the way that I had not only had they been clear about what I was explaining, my "commitment, knowledge and confidence had shone through" and impressed them and made them want to work with me as I had outlined as they had faith in my abilities as a result of the meting.

This surprised me as I had been really, really nervous about attending the meeting a it was quite high level and I was basically trying to persuade them to do what I wanted them to do, which historically isn't the way things are done, but when I thought about the positive feedback I realised that I am passionate about what I was presenting to them, and the approach I had taken allowed me the freedom to discuss/explain/ elaborate on the points I was making but without the nerves about presenting at them which comes with a powerpoint.

So I think that that will be a possible exhibition approach that wil enable me to exhibit my learning in a confident manner, generate discussion as well as not be so governed by the logistics of a free large room and a working laptop. I intend to try the exhibition out in a couple of ways; one at my team management meeting presenting it to the whole team while they all have the exhibition document in front of them and another as a one-to-one exhibition with a couple of other key people. I am toying with the idea of emailing the document to a couple of other people and asking them to read through my "exhibtion" and give me their feedback as a third exhibition approach. This would give me useful feedback about the effectiveness of each strategy.

The only drawback is that producing a document is my usual style of work so I need to make sure it is not just an essay. I think with the inclusion of relevant photos graphics, large font etc it wil be more appeaking than reading a word document. I am so focused about the benefit of my research that I am determind to make this final stage work.