Building Confidence and Maintaining Confidence in Public Speaking

Introduction to the Development of Confidence

• Confidence is not an innate trait that individuals are born with; it is a skill that any person can develop through effort and practice.

• High-level performers, such as Michael Phelps or Tony Romo, rely on the same type of confidence to perform at their peak that a student or professional uses to achieve success.

• The journey to building confidence begins with a thorough understanding of what the concept actually means.

Defining Confidence and Its Obstacles

• Confidence: This is defined as the feeling an individual experiences when they believe they are capable of handling a specific situation successfully.

• Source of Confidence: Confidence is the direct result of ongoing preparation and consistent practice. The more times an individual attempts a task, the better they become, which reinforces their belief in their ability.

• Communication Apprehension: This refers specifically to the fear of speaking in public situations.

• Fear: Defined as an emotion induced by a perceived threat, causing an individual to pull back. It is a basic survival mechanism designed to protect the individual from harm and help them cope with danger.

• Phobia: This is categorized as a persistent and irrational fear.

Physiological Symptoms of Speaking Anxiety

• Physical symptoms of fear usually occur immediately before a person begins to speak and throughout the first $30$ seconds of a speech.

• Recognized symptoms include:

  • Upset stomach
  • Flushed face
  • Dizziness
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Excessive sweating
  • Wobbly legs

The Hierarchy of Common Fears

• In a survey of the average American's top $10$ fears, speaking is ranked as the number one fear, even above death. The full list includes:
  • $10$) Dogs
  • $9$) Loneliness
  • $8$) Flying
  • $7$) Death
  • $6$) Sickness
  • $5$) Deep water
  • $4$) Financial problems
  • $3$) Insects and bugs
  • $2$) Heights
  • $1$) SPEAKING

Self-Assessment for Public Speaking Phobia

• Individuals can evaluate their level of anxiety using a specific quiz:

  • $1$) Do I avoid public speaking opportunities because of high anxiety?
  • $2$) Do I obsess about upcoming speaking engagements?
  • $3$) Do I plan my career around the amount of speaking required?
  • $4$) Do I experience anxiety levels above $8$ when speaking in public (where $0$ is zero anxiety and $10$ is panic)?
  • $5$) Does my fear of public speaking contribute to unusually high stress levels and/or depression?
  • $6$) Do I self-medicate to mask anxiety in speaking situations?

• Scoring Results:

  • $1$ Answered "Yes": Mild Phobia
  • $2$-$3$ Answered "Yes": Moderate Phobia
  • $4$+ Answered "Yes": Severe Phobia

The Role of Perception in Effective Speech

• Perception: Defined as how an individual sees things.

• Accurate Perceptions: These facilitate learning about oneself, personal objectives, and other people.

• Inaccurate Perceptions: These can cause a speaker to blow things out of proportion, leading them to become their own worst enemy.

• Audience Perception: Speakers often erroneously assume the audience can see their nervousness or knows exactly when they mess up. However, research indicates that audiences are often unaware of a speaker's anxiety and are willing to forgive mistakes if the speaker is genuinely interested in sharing information.

• Speech Perception: Many speakers view a speech as a "performance." It is essential to recognize that it is NOT a performance. Instead, it is an opportunity to share, enjoy meaningful moments, and communicate verbally with people you care about.

Self-Perception and Overcoming Mistakes

• Self-Perception: Individuals often feel they are less than perfect. However, a mistake in a speech does not equal total failure.

• Self-Esteem: This is essentially another word for confidence. It is nurtured when a person faces fears, frustrations, and failures and remains standing.

• Managing In-Speech Panic: If a speaker notices physical signs of stress—such as notes shaking uncontrollably, eye contact only with the back wall, shaking knees, no words coming out, or sweating—they should not panic. The recommended response is to smile, remember they are human, take a deep breath, and focus on how to correct these issues in the next speech.

The Ten Planks of Confidence

• Content: Having something truly worthwhile to say to the audience.

• Organization: Utilizing a clear outline that is easy for both the speaker and the audience to follow.

• Notes: Jotting down ideas in a brief, directed form. Speakers should avoid having too many words on a single card or having too many notecards in total.

• Friendliness: Being congenial and conveying a warm, likable attitude.

• Impression: Getting off to a good start, which includes proper grooming and dress.

• Dedication: The willingness to spend time and effort to practice and develop the necessary skill.

• Empathy: Having a sincere understanding of the feelings, thoughts, and motives of the audience members.

• Newness: Applying originality and approaching a topic in a unique way.

• Conviction: Deeply believing in the message being delivered.

• Enthusiasm: Maintaining directed energy that inspires the audience.

Questions and Discussion

• Review Section 1:

  • $1$) Define the term communication apprehension: The fear of speaking in public situations.
  • $2$) What word means the feeling you have when you believe that you’re capable of handling a situation successfully? Confidence.
  • $3$) What is the definition of the word fear? An emotion induced by a perceived threat causing one to pull back; a basic survival mechanism.
  • $4$) What are the two reasons that explain why physical symptoms occur? They are a normal response to danger/harm and a mechanism to help us cope with perceived threats.

• Review Section 2:

  • $1$) How you see things is known as perception.
  • $2$) A speech should not be viewed as a performance. Instead, how would you define a speech? An opportunity to share, communicate verbally, and enjoy meaningful moments.
  • $3$) Another term for confidence is self-esteem.

• Review Section 3:

  • $1$) A notecard can be a comforting "security net." What are the two greatest problems regarding notes? Having too many words on a card and having too many cards.
  • $2$) Which of the $10$ planks talks about believing in what you say? Conviction.
  • $3$) Which of the $10$ planks talks about jotting down your ideas in a brief, directed form? Notes.