28 October - 03 November Reflections

Last week’s assignments included reading and summarizing McGinn’s article The Science of Pep Talk, as well as finalizing and posting the Dr. Nerd project deliverables.

In his 2017 article, McGinn explores how motivational talk by managers helps improve the performance of employees. It would seem that this topic is not new. However, what I learned from the article is that there is a body of scholarly research suggesting that successful motivational talk is based on direction giving, expression of empathy and making meaning. What I still would like to learn is how the exact mix of these three elements is determined in different rhetorical situations.

Also, we finalized and turned in our Dr. Nerd project deliverables last week. The project had been delivered in several stages, each stage prepping the next. What I learned from the project is how to write a proposal, conduct research, and write a report recommending a solution to a work-related problem. Well, the skills we acquired can be applied to exploring and recommending solutions in any area.