Norton Field Guide for Speaking 1.2

NFGS_ch1.2_lecppt.pptx

1. Chapter 1.2 Speaking Anxiety Copyright © 20 22 W. W. Norton & Company

2. Introduction It is common for speakers to feel some anxiety This nervousness (also called speaking anxiety , stage fright , and communication apprehension ) affects seemingly poised and confident speakers as well 2

3. Speaking Anxiety Is Common Speaking anxiety is one of the most common and most intense personal fears Roug hly 75–85% of the US population experience anxiety regarding making a presentation A speaker’s success is not determined by the extent of their nervousness but by how well they understand and manage it 3

4. Sources of Speaking Anxiety (and How to Respond to Them) The process of managing speaking anxiety begins with recognizing and understanding why the speaker feels anxious All speakers have personal reasons for feeling nervous; however, these reasons generally cluster into six categories: Novelty Physiological Symptoms Unrealistic Beliefs Fear of the Spotlight “Rigid Rules” Fear of Evaluation 4

5. Sources of Speaking Anxiety: Novelty Doing something new is a common cause for anxiety As a speaker, every presentation will be a new rhetorical situation, each different in many important ways To reduce the anxiety that arises from novelty, find ways to familiarize yourself with the unfamiliar elements: Connect with a few audience members before you begin the presentation Acquaint yourself with the setting of the talk Familiarize yourself with the technology and presentation aids you will need 5

6. Sources of Speaking Anxiety: Physiological Symptoms Some speakers experience physiological symptoms of anxiety during a presentation, such as palms sweating , pulse speeding up, and hands shaking These physical responses also become a common source of anxiety To reduce these symptoms, find a physical pre-presentation rituals that helps you relax your body Take deep breaths, relax tensed muscles, move around, repeat a word or syllable, or let out a yawn or a sigh If the anxious feelings still persist, harness those feelings to energize your presentation 6

7. Sources of Speaking Anxiety: Unrealistic Beliefs Many speakers worry that their nervousness dooms them to failure Experienced speakers accept that it’s unlikely they will stop being nervous or totally calm down and instead transform worrisome, irrational, and nonproductive thoughts into positive statements Instead, they focus on their role or message, remind themselves that they will calm down as they start to speak, and use positive self-talk to become more realistic about the experience of making a presentation Cognitive restructuring is a method that changes unrealistic thinking into realistic expectations 7

8. Sources of Speaking Anxiety: Fear of the Spotlight We often experience some anxiety when we are the focus of other people’s attention Spotlight effect is a tendency to overestimate the extent to which our behavior and appearance are noticed and assessed by others Remind yourself that most speakers significantly overestimate the extent to which audience members are criticizing their appearance or their speaking skills; they are more concerned with whether you address their needs and engage their attention and interest To address your anxiety, shift attention away from yourself and toward your audience 8

9. Sources of Speaking Anxiety: “Rigid Rules” Some speakers become very anxious when they believe they are violating a “rule” of presentation speaking Keep in mind that there are not rigid rules that must be adhered to in every presentation Finding a way to connect and communicate with your audience matters much more than any rule 9

10. Sources of Speaking Anxiety: Fear of Evaluation Whenever you make a presentation, you are being evaluated by your audience, which is a leading source of speaker anxiety There are two means to overcome this fear of evaluation: preparation and practice Prepare effectively for your talk by doing research, choosing strong supporting materials, and organizing your content, and practice your delivery 10

11. Just Do It! (1 of 2) One of the best ways to change presentation anxiety into presentation confidence is simply to speak as often as you can Speaking apprehension is a complex phenomenon without a guaranteed “cure.” Effective speakers can manage their anxiety by identifying its sources and choosing appropriate strategies to deal with them 11

12. Just Do It! (2 of 2) Here’s a summary of the most common sources and recommended responses to each one: Novelty Make the unfamiliar feel familiar. Learn more about the audience, setting, and occasion. Practice your presentation until you feel comfortable and more confident. Physiological Symptoms Adopt a ritual of relaxation to reduce the physical symptoms of speaking anxiety. Avoid overestimating the extent to which your internal feelings are detectable by the audience. Use nervousness to create positive energy and excitement. Remember that nervousness tends to decrease once you’ve begun speaking. Unrealistic Beliefs Convert worrisome, irrational, and nonproductive beliefs into positive statements. Focus on your message and audience, and count on calming down as you speak. Fear of the Spotlight Shift attention (both yours and the audience’s) away from yourself to your audience’s needs and interests. “Rigid Rules” Do not let rigid rules control you. Regardless of the rule, make sure your presentation is appropriate for you, your purpose, your audience, and the occasion. Fear of Evaluation Devote adequate time to preparing your message and to practicing your delivery. 12

13. Notable Speaker: Monica Lewinsky, Part 1 In 1995—at the age of 22—Monica Lewinsky spent more than a year working as a White House intern, during which time she had an affair with President Bill Clinton. Lewinsky faced intense media scrutiny when the affair became national news in January 1998. Although social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook did not exist at the time, the internet provided a platform for the public shaming of Lewinsky.

14. Notable Speaker: Monica Lewinsky, Part 2 By 2005, she decided to escape the spotlight and move to London to pursue a master’s degree in psychology. She maintained a relatively private life until October 2014, when she spoke about cyberbullying and internet shaming at a Forbes magazine “30 under 30” summit. Since her presentation at the summit and subsequent TED talk in 2015, Lewinsky has served as an ambassador for the antibullying organization Bystander Revolution, participated in a number of antibullying campaigns, and written about the #MeToo movement.

15. Notable Speaker: Monica Lewinsky, Part 3 15

16. Notable Speaker: Monica Lewinsky, Part 4 16

17. Notable Speaker: Monica Lewinsky, Part 5 17

18. Notable Speaker: Monica Lewinsky, Part 6 18

19. Notable Speaker: Monica Lewinsky, Part 7 19

20. Notable Speaker: Monica Lewinsky, Part 8 20

21. Conclusion It is entirely human for the thought of giving a presentation to make you a bit nervous Understanding why you experience speaking anxiety and using the aforementioned techniques to respond to it can help you manage this common fear Speaking anxiety doesn’t disappear overnight, but managing it becomes easier with practice and experience 21

22. Credits This concludes the Lecture PowerPoint presentation for Chapter 1.2. For more resources, please visit The Norton Field Guide to Speaking : http://digital.wwnorton.com/nfgspeaking. Copyright © 2 022 W. W. Norton & Company