Building ConfidenceChapter Overview: Main Concepts

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Confidence is the feeling you have when you know that you can accomplish a certain task successfully

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Confidence is the motivating factor behind the power and believability of your words--it is an essential element to being taken seriously by your audience

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Stage fright often threatens a speaker’s confidence--think of it like a strong wind that weakens your confidence structure

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Fear is a biological process that allows you to deal with potentially dangerous situations--people are often victimized by phobias, or fears that get out of hand

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Everyone is potentially susceptible to performance anxiety (or stage fright), even professionals

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The symptoms of stage fright range from a rapid heartbeat to excessive perspiration to an upset stomach

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One way to overcome this fear is to establish an accurate perception of yourself, your audience, and your speech

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Perception is the main support beam of confidence--it challenges you to see things as they really are, not as your fears might lead you to believe the are

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Another way to deal with performance anxiety and build your speaking confidence is by practicing the ten “planks of confidence”

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Confidence is a consequence of preparation and hard work and is the driving force behind speaking effectiveness

You will be able to...

● Discuss what confidence means and how it’s a vital element in effective speaking

● Recognize the realities of stage fright and how you can appropriately deal with the problem

● Realize the value of perception as it applies to confidence in your speaking

● Implement the planks of confidence in your speaking

• Yellow cards• SEP signed forms• Outlines and extra credit due on Monday

• We will discuss the chapter and make notecards for your speech