Chapter 3 Speaking with Confidence

Understanding Communication Apprehension

Defining Communication Apprehension

  • the first step in learning to deal with it

    • understand what it is and how it may affect & undermine your effectiveness as a speaker and citizen

    • Those experiencing high communication apprehension may perform less effectively in the classroom, on the job, and in the community

    • Most of us may not be affected by severe communication apprehension

      • we are all apt to suffer from it to some degree

Communication apprehension - Feelings of anxiety a speaker may experience before or during a public presentation

  • an individual’s level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons

  • not limited to acting or traditional public speaking

  • may extend anxiety about speaking up in meetings and other smaller, less public communication contexts

  • NOT the same as shyness

  • Communication apprehension is associated with these negative outcomes

    • avoiding interaction

    • learn less

    • earning lower grades

    • sitting in the back of the class so the lecturer won’t call on them

    • less likely to seek the assistance of tutors when they need help

    • performing less effectively in job interviews

    • less likely to be hired

    • problems with academic performance

    • reporting less job satisfactions

    • less likely to be selected as friends or turned to as opinion leaders

    • barriers to personal success

    • barriers to professional success

    • can rob you of your voice as a citizen

Factors that Contribute to Communication Apprehension

Describe underlying factors that contribute to communication apprehension

  • Most speakers who have experienced communication apprehension would prefer to feel more confident when they speak.

  • They don’t understand what is is they fear or why they feel anxious in some situations but can maintain calm, confidence, and composure in others

  • Understanding the Underlying causes of communication allow us to combat it effectively

Poor Preparation

  • ideas are poorly documented

  • thoughts disorganized

  • ill-prepared

  • failed to practice delivering speech aloud from their notes

These inhibitions are easily addressed by

  • stay relaxed

  • breath deeply

  • be careful about what you eat

    • don’t eat anything that could make you nauseous

  • start practicing the speech early

Trait Anxiety

Trait Anxiety - Internal anxiety that an individual brings to the speaking situation; not dependent on the specific situation

  • some speakers suffer from this affliction

  • they are generally apprehensive whenever they are called upon to speak

  • Hearts race

  • refuse requests to speak

  • do all they can to avoid speaking in public

  • even informal speeches make them nervous

  • speaking anxieties no matter the context, topic, or audience

State Anxiety

State Anxiety - Anxiety caused by worrisome factors in a specific speaking situation

  • may find a particular audience or speech setting as threatening

  • when faced with a larger audience than usual a typically calm speaker may become anxious

  • speaker may become anxious when asked to speak to an audience of important people or people who have higher status than the speaker

  • If there are high stakes the speaker may be anxious

Self-Expectations

  • some have unrealistic self-expectations

    • hoping for perfection

  • If they make the slightest mistake they feel like a failure

  • their own harshest critics

  • some may have extremely low self-expectations

Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PCRA-24)

Fear of Evaluation

  • basically fear of being perceived poorly

  • don’t want to be judged harshly

Fearing that Listeners Perceive Apprehension

  • fear listeners know that you know you’re nervous and it’s obvious

Fear of Failure

  • may feel isolated or fear of failure

  • can be perceived as confident while in actuality feeling extremely panicked

  • Assume confident speakers are more affective

    • although outstanding public speakers often suffer from communication apprehension

  • Feeling anxious about speaking does not necessarily lead to failure

Overreacting to the Body’s Physiological Responses

  • when faced with apprehension, the speaker may face adverse physiological reactions

    • trembling hands

    • dry mouths

  • Overreacting to these physical symptoms at the start of your speech can aggravate your anxiety

    • most symptoms subside after the first few seconds

  • Most people face only mild to moderate communication apprehension

    • for some it’s severe and they may avoid speaking at all

Managing Communication Apprehension

Employ strategies for managing communication apprehension while preparing yourself to speak

  • there’s a bunch of strategies used by people from all walks of life

    • prepare thoroughly

    • firmly believe in what you plan on saying

    • addressing substantive issues to which you are committed and being well prepared

Address Issues to Which You Are Committed

  • genuine commitment to your topic can help you overcome the anxiety you may have about speaking in public

Be Well Prepared

  • combat communication apprehension by being able to tell yourself you’re well prepared

  • Select a topic of interest and value to you and your audience

  • devote significant time and effort to gathering information and to broadening your understanding of the subject

  • Carefully organize your speech into a clear, coherent, and unified whole

  • Practice your speech over and over again

  • Have feedback

Feedback - Constructive criticism, comments, and other helpful information about your speech given to you by your instructor, your peers, or other members of your audience.

  • remind yourself of your careful preparation

    • this can be reassuring and potentially liberating as you grapple with your anxiety

    • your audience will sense that you have worked hard

  • If you meet your responsibilities as a speaker, your audience will do their responsibility as listeners

  • reduce anxiety by addressing topics that genuinely concern you

Develop a Positive Attitude

  • visualize your successful speech

  • positive thoughts reduce anxiety

  • anxious people have negative thoughts

    • NOFREAKINGDUH OFC PEOPLE WHO HAVE ANXIETY HAVE A NEGATIVE THOUGHT LOOP THATS THE WHOLE THING WITH ANXIETY

Practice Your Speech

  • practice over the period of a few days

  • Practice early and often

  • You’ll learn what works best for you with experience

Anticipate the Speech Situation

  • Effective speakers know their audiences

  • Gathering information about your audience and the speaking situation before you speak helps you focus on the audience right from the start

  • Try to scout as much information about your audience

  • Don’t make assumptions about the audience’s knowledge by overestimating or underestimating what they know

  • Don’t get lost or get there late

  • don’t ignore time limits or constraints

  • don’t violate listener norms or expectations

Practice Active Listening

  • Active listening is a powerful tool for managing communication apprehension

    • more thank likely your speech is part of a longer program, meeting, banquet, and may be part of a long list of back to back speakers

  • Listening to the speakers that precede you

  • focus on the importance of the issue and relax a bit as you prepare to share your own speech

Exercise for Relaxation

  • do some simple physical exercises to relax

Deep breathing - Expanding the diaphragm to increase one’s intake of air to assist with relaxation and enhance vocal delivery

  • breathe deeply before you speak and continue breathing deeply and regularly while delivering your speech for better vocal support and ongoing relaxation

Isometric exercise - Tensing a muscle and holding it for a short time, followed by complete relaxation of the muscle

  • one useful relaxation method is isometric exercise

Aerobic exercise - Physical activity that increases one’s heart rate and respiration and, as a result, lessens tension

  • another relaxation method is aerobic exercise

Acknowledge the Potential Benefits of Moderate Communication Apprehension

  • experienced speakers find ways to channel their nervous energy in positive directions

  • they’re able to do this because of techniques they’ve developed for themselves

    • meditation

    • prayer

    • two-mile run

    • quiet walk

    • comfortable clothing

    • etc

  • a little anxiety can be a good thing because that little spurt of adrenaline can energize your mind and body, keep you alert, and perhaps contribute to a more dynamic delivery

Maintain a Sense of Perspective

  • No matter how much you prep, things can still go awry

  • you will never have complete control over the situation

  • Unpredictability is what makes public speaking both challenging and interesting

  • Prepare will

  • Do your best

  • be flexible

  • pay attention to feedback from your listeners

  • View every aspect as a learning experience