Notes on Public Speaking Nervousness

Depersonalization

• Speaker recounts advice from someone who gives seminars to large audiences.
• When asked how she speaks in front of 800 people, she responds that "it's not about me."
• It's about what she wants to accomplish for "these creatures".
• Depersonalizing the situation made it about others, not herself.
• There is comfort in taking the focus off oneself.
• The speaker emphasizes the obligation to connect with the audience.

Behavior Modifications for Anxiety

• Address anxiety by modifying behavior.
• Suggestion: if anxious, try taking deep breaths.

Managing Nervousness in Speeches

• Be most familiar with the beginning of your speech.
• Familiarity reduces fear because you already know what you're going to say.
• The first 30 seconds are typically the most nerve-wracking.
• One-minute speeches may be too short; relaxation comes just as the speech ends.
• 3-5 minute speeches are more effective for practice.
• Memorize the speech so well that you don't have to think about it.
• This will help you feel more relaxed and appear less nervous.
• Analogy: a well-memorized monologue can be rattled off without conscious effort.

Identifying and Addressing Nervous Behaviors

• Take inventory of your own nervous behaviors during practice sessions.
• Nervous behaviors are often not self-evident.
• Methods for identifying nervous traits:
  • Watching a videotape of yourself.
  • Having others critique you.

Examples of Nervous Behaviors

• Fidgeting with an object (e.g., keys).
  • Distracts the audience from your message.
• Trembling.
  • Shaking the podium due to nervousness is problematic.
• Quivering voice.
• Forgetting what one wants to say.