Public Speaking Anxiety

Glossophobia

Objective• Understand Public Speaking Anxiety• Causes of Public Speaking Anxiety• Symptoms Associated with Public

Speaking Anxiety• Prepare for an Effective Public

Speech• Tips to have an Effective Public

Speech

Public Speaking Anxiety

• Public Speaking Anxiety is very common. • It is estimated that as many as 85% of people experience more or less anxiety when they speak in public• If your nervousness about speaking is interfering with your life and things that you would like to do, you may have a Social Phobia. • A phobia is a fear that is out of proportion to the danger. • Public Speaking Anxiety is the most common form of a phobia.

GLOSSOPHOBIA

a.k.a.Speech Anxiety

Glossophobia

• Fear of Public Speaking. • Informally referred to as “stage

fright”.• Single most common phobia.• Is thought to affect as many as

three out of every four people. • Considered to be a social anxiety

disorder (SAD).

Example• A glossophobic might make a

conscious effort to avoid situations in which he or she may have to engage in public speaking, thus limiting his or her life and career choices.

• Jerry Seinfeld said, "The average person at a funeral would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy."

Attributions to Public Speaking Anxiety

Speech anxiety can usually be attributed to…

• Single or more traumatic incidents, usually experienced personally but sometimes associated with someone who has, or

• A slow build-up form avoiding public speaking over time until it builds into a more severe form of glossophobia.

• A series of beliefs formed early in life some of which have to do with speaking and some of which have to do with competence and failure.

Other causes of speech anxiety…

• Thinking it is inherently stressful • Thinking you need to be brilliant or

perfect• Trying to cram too much information

into a short period of time• Trying to make everyone happy• Trying to be someone you are not

Other causes of speech anxiety…Continued

• Not being humble• Being fearful of negative outcomes• Trying to control something that is out

of your hands• Over preparing• Remember you are your worst critic

Symptoms

Symptoms of speech anxiety can be categorized into three groups

• Physical– Autonomic Nervous system

• Fight or flight reaction» Acute hearing» Increased heart rate» Increased blood pressure» Dilated pupils» Sweating» Heaving breathing» Stiff muscles» Dry mouth

• Verbal• Tense voice• Quivering voice• Repetition of “umms” and “ahhs”

• Non-verbal• Tone of voice• Facial expressions• Body movement

Some more examples of Symptoms

• Intense anxiety prior to, or at the thought of having to give a speech.

• Avoiding events where attention may be shifted to you.

• Physical distress, nausea, or feelings of panic in situations where you must give a speech.

Preparing to give a Speech

PREPARING TO GIVE A SPEECH

• CHOOSE A TOPIC THAT INTEREST YOU• BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE VENUE• ASK FOR ACCOMMODATIONS• DON’T SCRIPT IT

PREPARING TO GIVE A SPEECH

• PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE !!

• PREPARE FOR HECKLERS

• GET SOME PERSPECTIVE

• IMAGINE YOUESLEF SUCCEEDING

10 Tips to Improve Your Speaking Voice

Breathe from your diaphragm • Practice long and controlled exhales. • When you speak, use breath to punctuate

your pointUse Pitch

•Lower pitches generally are more soothing to hear.•Modulating your pitch for emphasis will keep your listeners engaged.Moderate your

volume•Find out if you speak too loudly or to softly.

•Try to stay at the appropriate volume throughout your speech.

Moderate your pace• If you speak too quickly , people can’t keep up.

• If you speak to slowly, people will lose interest.

• Record your speech to determine if you need to change your pace.

Articulate• Try exaggerating your lip movement to reduce mumbling.

• Practice articulating tongue twisters as quickly and crisply as possible

Practice• Practice your speech in advance and determine

where you want to pause for a breath.

• For emphasis, pause for more than one breath.

• Mark your breathing points in your notes

Loosen up•Before you begin. Look side to side.

•Roll your head in half- circles and roll your shoulders back.

•Stretch, yawn, touch your toes while completely relaxing your upper body, then slowly stand up, one vertebra at a time, raising your head last. Repeat as needed.

Posture• Stand up straight and tall to allow full lung capacity

and airflow.

Record•Record your voice repeatedly using different ways of speaking.

•Determine which one is most pleasingPractice Breath Control

•Take a deep breath, and while you exhale, count to 10

•Try gradually increasing your volume as you count, using your •abdominal muscles – not your throat- for volume.

•Don’t let your larynx tense up.