1. Chapter 2
Building Confidence

2. What is Confidence?
Confidence: feeling you have when you believe you are capable of handling a situation successfully
Result of ongoing preparation and practice
More times you try something, the better you get at it
Confidence gives stability to speaker and makes message believable

4. What is the opposite of confidence? FEAR!!
Communication Apprehension: fear of speaking in public situations
Fear is normal! It protects us from harm so we can cope with danger. Biologists call this the flight or fight syndrome.
Phobia: persistent, irrational fear
Many people fear giving a speech more than they do dying! (Seinfeld)

5. Symptoms of Fear Upset stomach Flushed face Dizziness Fast heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Excessive sweating
Wobbly legs
Symptoms usually occur right before we speak and during the first 30 seconds or so after we begin a speech

7. Perceptions in Speech Perception: how you see things
Accurate perceptions help us gain awareness or learn more about others
We understand things better
Inaccurate perceptions cause us to blow things out of proportion
We make mountains out of molehills

8. Our Perceptions of the Audience
Speakers assume the audience:
can see their nervousness and
know when they mess up
Not true! Research shows the audience:
is often unaware of anxiety
will ignore or forgive mistakes if speaker is interested in topic and audience

9. Our Perceptions of the Speech
Speakers see a speech as a performance
A speech is:
an opportunity to share
an extension of the speaker
Remember that it’s NOT a performance!

10. Our Perceptions of Ourselves
We think we are less than perfect
Making a mistake in a speech does not equal total failure
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
Self-esteem: another word for confidence
We are not born with confidence; it is built

11. Giving a Speech Don’t panic! Don’t be afraid to make a mistake!
Speech isn’t brain surgery
We are only human
Think about how to correct mistakes in future speeches
Laugh at mistakes

12. Planks of Confidence Content Organization Notes Friendliness
Impression
Dedication
Empathy
Newness
Conviction
Enthusiasm

14. Class Activity Break up into 10 groups
Each group will be assigned one plank of confidence
Read your group’s plank information in the book
Tell the class IN DETAIL about your plank
Which plank is easiest for you? Hardest?

15. Planks of CONFIDENCE Content – having something worthwhile to say
Organization – have an intro, body, conclusion
Notes – “safety nets” – need 3 note cards; KEY WORDS ONLY
Friendliness – SMILE when you speak 

16. Impression – appear well dressed and groomed
Dedication – practice, practice, practice
Empathy – putting yourself in other’s shoes
Newness – be original!
Conviction – believing in what you say
Enthusiasm – speak with energy!