chapter one - speaking with confidence

empowerment

• achieves desired goals

• is “advantage” over competition

• shows confidence

• shows conviction

employment

• corporations want skilled speakers who are able to

  • adapt information

  • be organized

  • keep listeners interested

the communication process

• communication as action

  • linear: one-way messages

  • source: encodes message

  • message: what is said & how it is said

  • channel: how message is transmitted

  • receiver: decodes message

  • noise: interferes with message

• communication as interaction

  • as message is sent, feedback to sender is provided by receiver

  • communication happens within a context or the environment/situation in which speech occurs

• communication as transaction

  • communication happens simultaneously

  • sender also receives message

  • receiver also sends message

improving your confidence

• nervousness is normal

  • audience cannot see nervousness

  • use anxiety to your advantage

• public speaking is the number one highest anxiety situation

understand your nervousness

• brain triggers body

• communication apprehension (ca) is the fear of speaking

• styles of ca

  • average: normal heart rate

  • insensitive: lower heart rate

  • inflexible: higher heart rate

  • confrontation: high to normal heart rate

build your confidence

• before your speech

  • do not procrastinate

  • know your audience

  • select an appropriate topic

  • prepare

  • be organized

  • be familiar with introduction and conclusion

  • simulate actual speech conditions

  • breathe deeply

  • think and act calmly

  • picture positive outcomes

  • reassure yourself mentally

• during your speech

  • focus on content, not fears

  • look for supportive audience members

• after your speech

  • reflect on positives

  • seek other speaking opportunities

public speaking differs from conversation

• public speaking is planned

  • more formal

  • more preparation

  • clearly defined rules 

• public speaking is formal

  • less slang and casual language

  • more physical distance between speaker and audience

  • more controlled gestures and movements

• speaker and audience roles are clearly defined

  • expectations are well-established

  • behaviors are stable

  • speaker and audience follows rules

an audience-centered speech-making model

• always think of your audience

  • this shows sensitivity to their needs

  • think ahead of time if they will understand your words

consider your audience

• gather and analyze information about your audience

• consider culturally diverse backgrounds of your audience

• adapt speech to each particular audience

public speaking & diversity

• different audiences have different expectations

• speakers must adopt to audiences

• audience-centeredness is key

determine your purpose

• general purpose: overarching goal of your speech

• to inform: teach, define, or clarify

• to persuade: changes or strengthen thoughts or behaviors

• to entertain: amuse with stories, illustrations, and humor

specific purpose

• exact response you want from audience

• concise statement indicating what you want the audience to

  • do

  • think

  • feel

  • remember 

develop your central idea

• overview of speech

• one-sentence summary of speech

generate main ideas

• identify how speech will logically divide

• show how the central idea logically divides will determine main ideas

• provide reasons why central idea is true can be main ideas

• are a series of steps to illustrate central idea can be main ideas

gather supporting material

• material that “backs up” ideas

• can be personal and concrete

• should appeal to all listeners

• research your supporting material

• can be verbal, visual, or both

organize your speech

• start by writing the body of your speech

• arrange ideas to make most sense

• prepare introduction and conclusion after body

• follow effective outlining techniques

rehearse your speech

• prepare early

• practice out loud

• observe your behaviors

• make adjustments

• rehearse in front of others

delivering your speech

• walk calmly/confidently

• maintain eye contact

• speak loudly & vary your pitch