Speaking Confidently Sections 21, 22battling Nerves And The

Speaking Confidentlysections 21 22battling Nerves And The Unexpect

Speaking Confidently Sections 2.1 & 2.2 Battling Nerves and the Unexpected and What Is Communication Apprehension? Communication Apprehension “The fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons” (James C. McCroskey). Psychological Response to Evaluation The psychological response quickly becomes physical. The body’s circulatory and adrenal systems shift into overdrive, preparing us to function at maximum physical efficiency – the “Flight or fight” response.

Physical Sensations Our hearts may pound, our hands may feel clammy, we may feel “butterflies” in our stomachs, or experience other symptoms. We may become so anxious that we fear we will forget our own name and be unable to present the main points of our own speech. Physical Sensations cont. Any conscious emotional state such as anxiety consists of two components: One component is the primary reaction of the central nervous system. The other component is the intellectual interpretation of the physiological response.

The physiological state does not differ from excitement. Effective speakers learn to channel the energy in their physiological response toward providing an animated stage presence. “Folk” Knowledge about Communication Anxiety Produces Myths Myth One One myth is that people who suffer from speaking anxiety are neurotic. Speaking anxiety is normal. Strong, experienced speakers can get nervous.

Myth Two Another myth is that telling a joke is a good way to begin a speech. Sometimes humor “bombs.” It is easy to offend by accident when using humor. Myth Three A third myth is that imagining the audience naked is an effective strategy. Imagining an audience misdirects us away from our real audience. What we imagine can be threatening or distracting.

Myth Four Another myth is that any mistake ruins the speech. A speech does not have to be perfect; everybody makes mistakes. We can recover from stumbling or misspeaking and get back on track. Myth Five A very misleading myth is that memorizing a speech helps you avoid anxiety. Memorization is likely to make anxiety worse.

Memorization is likely to produce a “canned,” robot-like speech. Myth Six A further myth is that audiences are out to get you. Most audiences are interested in your material. Most audiences want you to succeed. Myth Seven The idea that the audience can tell how nervous you are is false. Audiences do not perceive the level of nervousness that speakers report feeling. Don’t apologize for your nervousness. Myth Eight A little nervousness always leads to a bad speech. Some nerves actually keep you on your toes. Professional performers channel the extra energy into their performance.

Section 2.3 All Anxiety Is Not the Same: Sources of Communication Apprehension Trait Anxiety Trait anxiety typifies people who are anxious at many times and in many situations. Trait anxiety is the tendency to be more uncomfortable than average in a wide variety of settings. People with trait anxiety tend to avoid public speaking. People with trait anxiety are therefore unlikely to develop skill and experience in public speaking. However, people with trait anxiety can become competent speakers even if they never learn to enjoy it.

Context Anxiety Context anxiety refers to anxiety prompted by specific communication situations. The formality of a situation sometimes produces increased nervousness. Uncertainty, or unpredictability, can produce nervousness. The novelty or intensity of a communication environment can also produce anxiety. Practice and experience can help reduce context anxiety.

Audience Anxiety Audience anxiety often occurs because of unfamiliar audience characteristics. The degree of perceived similarity between you and your audience can influence your level of speech anxiety. The size of the audience can also be a factor in the level of anxiety. Some speakers feel greater pressure to perform well in front of friends and family than in front of strangers. Situational Anxiety Situational anxiety is apprehension created by the specific and unique combination of audience, time and setting.

There are many examples of factors that contribute to situational anxiety: Having to deliver bad news, Having to present a controversial topic, Having to address a tired audience on a Friday afternoon, Being scheduled near the end of a long program. Section 2.4 Reducing Communication Apprehension Nervousness is normal and can be harnessed toward an effective, animated speech. Levels of Anxiety Anticipation, the minute prior to the speech, usually is the most anxiety-producing stage. Confrontation, or the first minutes of the speech, typically relieves some of the anxiety. Adaptation, or the last minute of the speech, often produces even less anxiety.

Release, the minute after the speech is over, is the point at which most of the anxiety is dispelled. Helpful Strategies for Managing Nervousness During a Speech Cognitive Restructuring Changing how you label your experiences: are they obligations or opportunities? Positive self-talk can displace negative self-talk when you say, “I have good notecards to help me," instead of, “I know I’m going to forget everything.” Effective Preparation Analyze your audience so they will seem less like strangers. Start a speech with a hook technique, such as a question, a video, photo, or a scenario, to prompt audience response or engage their attention. Choose a topic that is interesting to you, so you can make it interesting for your audience.

Clearly Organize Your Ideas Create an outline emphasizing the main points, the most important points, which you should be able to remember readily. A simple outline should remind you of the order and progression of the ideas. Use PowerPoint and other technology if available. You may also reinforce the organization of your speech by using visual aids that match the pattern of points. Clearly Organize Your Ideas cont. Adapt your language to the oral mode. Spoken language and written language are different. The use of spoken, or oral, language is more conversational. It is usually more concrete and vivid than written language. The complex language used in writing can leave the audience lost and confused.

You may use personal pronouns “I,” “us,” and “we.” Practice, Practice, Practice Practice out loud. Practice while standing. Continue all the way through your entire speech without stopping. This is what you will have to do when you are in front of the audience. If you can, practice in the actual room where you will speak.

Time yourself so you won’t present too fast (or too slow). Look up from your notes and give audience contact. Practice will help you feel prepared for your speech. Reducing Anxiety While Speaking Breathing Deep, slow breathing can help counteract the physiological effects of anxiety. Physical Movement Physical movement, deliberately done, helps dispel excess anxious energy. If you can, move away from the lectern to be closer to the audience for a moment, but do not pace nervously. Relax the muscles of your neck and shoulders, and allow your arms to hang loosely before approaching the lectern. Identify Traits Do you speak too quickly or slowly? Do you overuse your hands? Do you tend to lean on the podium? Do you rely too heavily on and read from notes? Talk to your instructor and peers about tricks of the trade that may help you eliminate problems. Audience, Not Self Focus on the audience, not on yourself. Looking at individuals is more familiar than looking at a mass of people. Looking at others helps you think less about what you are feeling. Maintain Your Sense of Humor Try to laugh at yourself if something goes wrong. Stress Management Techniques Imagine or create images of relaxation and success. Mentally picture yourself in front of the room, presenting each part of the speech and using presentation aids. This technique does not replace practicing your speech out loud. Identify strengths and weaknesses and prepare an improvement plan.

Step One Stop avoiding the source of anxiety. First, an individual is trained in specific isometric muscle relaxation techniques. Next, the individual learns to respond with conscious relaxation even when confronted with the situation that once caused anxiety. An extremely anxious person can begin by watching other give speeches until they can watch without discomfort. That extremely anxious person can then begin talking about preparing and giving his or her own speech. Step Two Increased exposure to public speaking reduces overall anxiety. Seek opportunities to speak in public rather than avoiding them. William Jennings Bryan said, “The ability to speak effectively is an acquirement rather than a gift.”

Paper For Above instruction

Communication apprehension, commonly known as speech anxiety, is a prevalent phenomenon that affects individuals across various situations, impeding effective public speaking. Understanding the psychological and physiological responses involved, as well as strategies to mitigate anxiety, is essential for developing confident speakers. This paper explores the nature of communication apprehension, its sources, myths surrounding it, and effective methods to manage and reduce nervousness, especially when facing the unexpected during speeches.

Communication apprehension is defined by James C. McCroskey as the fear or anxiety linked to real or anticipated communication with others. The physiological response to such anxiety involves the activation of the body's adrenal and circulatory systems, triggering the "fight or flight" response. This reaction can manifest physically through symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, clammy hands, butterflies in the stomach, or difficulty in recalling content. These physiological sensations are not inherently negative; rather, they can be channeled into an engaging and animated presentation when understood and managed appropriately. Effective speakers recognize this energy as excitement rather than fear and leverage it to enhance their stage presence.

Several myths pervade the understanding of communication anxiety. One common myth is that individuals suffering from speech anxiety are neurotic; however, research indicates that anxious feelings during speaking are normal and experienced even by skilled or seasoned speakers. Another misconception suggests that humor or imagining the audience naked can alleviate anxiety, but these strategies often prove ineffective or counterproductive. Additionally, many believe that perfection in speech forgives mistakes, whereas errors are natural and manageable. Memorizing speeches is also mistakenly believed to reduce anxiety; in reality, it can lead to robotic delivery and heighten nervousness. Most importantly, the myth that audiences are out to criticize or that they can perceive nervousness is false—audiences are generally sympathetic and interested in the speaker’s message.

The sources of communication apprehension vary among individuals and contexts. Trait anxiety refers to a general, persistent discomfort across many situations, making some people inherently more anxious about public speaking. Conversely, context anxiety stems from specific circumstances such as the formality of the event or unfamiliarity with the audience. Audience anxiety intensifies when speakers perceive differences between themselves and their listeners or when dealing with larger or unfamiliar groups. Situational anxiety arises from unique factors such as delivering bad news, addressing controversial topics, or speaking near the end of lengthy sessions. Recognizing these sources allows speakers to tailor their preparation and anxiety-reduction strategies effectively.

Managing communication apprehension involves a combination of cognitive, physical, and behavioral techniques. Cognitive restructuring, which involves redefining the experience from obligations to opportunities, along with positive self-talk, can significantly alter perceptions of anxiety. Effective preparation, including audience analysis, engaging opening techniques, and well-structured outlines, helps build confidence. Practicing out loud, ideally in the actual speaking environment, allows for familiarity and reduces nervousness. Techniques such as slow, deep breathing, deliberate physical movement, and relaxation exercises can counteract physiological symptoms of anxiety. Focusing attention on the audience rather than oneself reduces self-consciousness and enhances engagement. Incorporating humor, maintaining a sense of perspective, and developing an improvement plan based on feedback further contribute to confident speaking practice.

Dealing with the unexpected during speeches also requires flexibility and preparedness. Common issues such as missing notes, technical failures, or external distractions can be managed through planning and composure. For example, note cards can be numbered and color-coded to avoid misplacement. Developing a backup plan for technical problems ensures continuous flow. When disruptions occur, maintaining professionalism by pausing and waiting for attention to return demonstrates control. Emotional resilience—accepting mistakes and employing humor—can defuse tension and keep the audience engaged. Systematic exposure, through repeated practice and gradual involvement in public speaking, diminishes overall anxiety, enabling speakers to face unpredictable situations with confidence.

In conclusion, communication apprehension is a multifaceted but manageable condition that impacts many individuals. By understanding its physiological and psychological components, debunking common myths, and utilizing practical strategies such as preparation, relaxation, audience focus, and exposure, individuals can cultivate confidence and effectiveness in public speaking. Facing the unexpected during speeches is inevitable; however, with adequate preparation and adaptive techniques, speakers can handle surprises professionally, transforming anxiety into a demonstration of resilience and competence. Developing these skills not only enhances speaking performance but also contributes to greater personal and professional growth in a communication-driven world.

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