Page 231 - Essentials of Human Communication

210 CHAPTER 11 Public Speaking Preparation (Steps 1–6)

● Be realistic. Unrealistically high expectations are likely to create anxiety and make you
more fearful of the public speaking situation (Ayres, 1986). You do not have to be perfect;
you do not have to give the best speech in the class. View your goal as giving a speech that
represents the best you can do. At the same time, avoid “catastrophizing,” visualizing the
very worst that can happen.
● See public speaking as conversation. When you’re the center of attention, as you are in
public speaking, you feel especially conspicuous; this often increases anxiety. It may help,
therefore, to think of public speaking as another type of conversation (some theorists call
it “enlarged conversation”).
● Focus on your listeners. When you focus on your listeners, you’ll be less fixated on your
own performance and less apprehensive. Focus on informing them about your topic or
persuading them to think differently or do something. The more attention you place on
your audience, the less you’ll have for worrying about your performance.
● Stress similarity. When you feel similar to (rather than different from) your audience, your anx-
iety should lessen. With all audiences, but especially with multicultural gatherings, stress similar-
ities in experiences, attitudes, and values; it will make you feel more at one with your listeners.
● Project confidence. Stand tall, and maintain direct eye contact with your listeners.
Behaving confidently is likely to feed back and lead you to feel confident. Acting confi-
dently is also likely to increase the positive reactions from the audience, which will
further help to put you at ease.
● Prepare and practice thoroughly. Much of the fear you experience is a fear of failure.
Adequate and even extra preparation will lessen the possibility of failure and the accom-
panying apprehension. Because apprehension is greatest during the beginning of the
speech, try memorizing the first few sentences of your talk. If there are complicated facts
or figures, be sure to write these out and plan to read them; this will remove from your
mind any worry about forgetting them.
● Move about and breathe deeply. Physical activity—gross bodily movements as well as the
small movements of the hands, face, and head—lessens apprehension. Using a visual aid, for
example, will temporarily divert attention from you and will allow you to get rid of your ex-
cess energy. If you breathe deeply a few times before getting up to speak, you’ll sense your
body relax. This will help you overcome your initial fear of walking to the front of the room.
● Avoid chemicals as tension relievers. Unless prescribed by a physician, avoid any chemical
means for reducing apprehension. Alcohol does not lessen public speaking anxiety
(Himle, Abelson, & Haghightgou, 1999); and tranquilizers, marijuana, and artificial stim-
ulants are likely to create problems rather than reduce them. They’re likely to impair your
ability to remember the parts of your speech, to accurately read audience feedback, and to
regulate the timing of your speech.
If, as a listener, you perceive that the speaker is apprehensive, you can help in a number of ways:
● Positively reinforce the speaker. A nod, a smile, an attentive appearance (especially main-
taining eye contact) will help put the speaker at ease. Resist the temptation to check your
text messages or talk with a friend.
● Ask questions in a supportive manner. If there’s a question period, ask information-seeking
questions rather than firing off critical challenges. And ask questions in a way that
Communication won’t encourage defensiveness. Instead of saying, “Your criticism of heavy metal mu-
Choice Point sic is absurd,” say, “Why do you find the lyrics of heavy metal harmful?”
apprehension ● Don’t focus on errors. If the speaker fumbles, don’t put your head down, cover your eyes,
Management or otherwise communicate your awareness of the fumble. Instead, continue listening to
This is your first experience the content of the speech; let the speaker know that you’re focused on what is being said.
with public speaking, and you’re very ner-
vous; you’re afraid you’ll forget your speech
and stumble. So you’re wondering if it starting earlY
would be a good idea to alert your audience At the most obvious level, starting early provides you with the time needed to process the
to your nervousness. If you decide to say information you’re going to talk about and to get used to the idea of preparing for the
something, what would you say? What good presentation of your speech. Starting early also provides you with the time to overcome
reasons can you give for saying nothing?
the inevitable unanticipated roadblocks: a website that you thought would be helpful is