Fear, Perception, and Confidence Advanced Speech

Misconception of Public Speakers  Great speakers are born, not made.  Good speaking should be easy right away.  Speaking will always be as difficult as when you are first learning it.  Speakers and listeners are different people.

Misconceptions  Simple formulas exist to become an effective public speaker.  Public speaking is best conceived as a performance, like acting.  Public speaking is best conceived as a form of composition, like writing.

Types of Apprehension  General vs. Specific  Facilitative vs. Debilitative

Reasons for Debilitative Fright  Negative experiences  Irrational thinking (four fallacies) –Catastrophic failure –Perfection –Approval –Overgeneralization

Learning Skills-Four Stages Stage 1  Unconscious incompetence –The person is not aware that he/she is making errors in some areas and may be unaware that there is a skill to be learned  Unconscious incompetence –The person is not aware that he/she is making errors in some areas and may be unaware that there is a skill to be learned

Stage 2  Conscious incompetence –A person has made the realization that she/he is doing something ineptly, and that there is room for improvement. In many cases, this awareness creates anxiety, which actually increases incompetence.

Stage 3 Stage 3  Conscious Competence –In this stage a person has taken a skill in which she/he feels incompetent, has improved, and then devotes a portion of consciousness to performing it competently

Stage 4  Unconscious Competence –Now a person has integrated the learned skills well enough that she/he need not devote conscious effort/attention to maintaining competence. –The skills comes naturally, effortlessly

Guidelines for Controlling Apprehension   Choose a topic you like and know a great deal.   Prepare yourself thoroughly.   Do not read or memorize your speech.   Regard your speech as communication and not a performance.   Imagine or visualize yourself giving a strong speech.

Guidelines for Controlling Apprehension   Analyze your audience prior to your speech.   Never call attention to your nervousness.   Do not let your audience upset you.   Use visual aids.   Check arrangements in advance.   Devote extra time for an effective introduction.

Guidelines for Controlling Apprehension   Breathe deeply or do exercises to relieve apprehension.   Act poised.   Pause a few moments before starting your speech.   Look directly at your audience as much as possible.   Get audience’s attention during speech.

Guidelines for Controlling Apprehension   Use body language to dissipate nervous energy.   Do not be afraid to make mistakes.   Welcome the experience.   BE POSITIVE!   Use CONFIDENCE!