Public Speaking Without Fear Linda Murray. Aim of the Workshop To enable you to feel more confident about your next public speaking event

Public Speaking Without Fear

Linda Murray

Aim of the Workshop

To enable you to feel more confident about your next public speaking event.

How it will do that

1. Discuss the causes of anxiety2. Help you to think about the effects of anxiety3. Provide suggestions for how to reduce the

negative effects of anxiety4. Provide the opportunity to experience

different types of communication

Activity

• Talk to the person beside you and find out:– Their name– The programme they are studying– Whether or not they are going to have to do a

presentation in the near future, and, if so, when and on what topic

– Where they consider to be their “home-town”.– Something else interesting about them.

Anxiety

• Some level of anxiety is productive• Fear can be defined as a high level of anxiety

that is NOT productive• It is unusual NOT to experience anxiety in

relation to public speaking• Different types of public speaking lead to

different levels of anxiety

Activity

• Rank order the public speaking events on the handout in order of tendency to evoke anxiety.

• Small Groups – then discussion

Types of Eventsi. Giving directions to a stranger

ii. Introducing a guest speaker at a club

iii. Standing up and talking on a topic I don’t know about to an audience of 40

iv. Speaking to a group of friends

v. Standing up and talking about a subject I know to an audience 80

vi. Being interviewed for a job

vii. Chairing a meeting

viii. Standing up and talking about a subject I know about to an audience of 40

ix. Speaking in a seminar of 8 people

x. Standing up and talking about a subject I don’t know about to an audience 80

What are the characteristics of Anxiety responses?

Three categories of responses:

1. Cognitive 2. Behavioural3. Physiological

Sort the cards into the three categories.

Now, Let’s consider:

What is the potential impact of excessive anxiety?

A little work on our thoughts

“What if my listeners are bored with my topic and fall asleep?”


“I am not sure what to say next. Where am I? Help!”


“I’m nervous.”

Top Tips for dealing with Anxiety

1Acknowledge

public speaking ANXIETY


Practise your speech 2


3Direct your

attention


AvoiD negative thought

intervention 4


5Project to your

supporters


6

Reduce the amount of uncertainty

that surrounds the

presentation


Know your audience 7


8Prepare your

material


Anticipateobjections 9


10Gain

experience

Any Questions?

Practice Sessions

Documents

Public Speaking Without Fear Linda Murray. Aim of the Workshop To enable you to feel more confident about your next public speaking event