Which of the following strategies is less likely to help you deal with nervousness in your speeches?

Initial Considerations

Glossophobia – the fear of public speaking

• It is the single most common phobia (fear)

• Approximately 75% of people experience this

• You are not alone in your fear

• You cannot eliminate your fear–but you CAN manage and reduce it. 

THIRTY WAYS TO MANAGE PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY 

Getting Ready 

1. Select a topic of interest to you

2. Prepare carefully–know your material

3. Practice–rehearse your talk with a friend

4. Know your audience

5. Challenge negative thinking–make 3 x 5 cards of positive thoughts or have friends write out inspirational thoughts for you.

6. Expect positive reactions–expect success!

7. Know the room–if unfamiliar, visit your speaking space before you talk.

8. Employ aerobic exercise strategies–daily aerobic exercise can cut anxiety by 50%.

9. Eat for success–foods containing tryptophan (dairy products, turkey, salmon) and complex carbohydrates tend to calm the body. Eliminate caffeine, sweets, and empty calories.

10. Sleep for success–know and get the number of hours of sleep you need for optimal performance. 

The Day of the Presentation 

11.   Eat several hours before the talk–not immediately before 

12.  Dress for success–your success! Dress comfortably and appropriately for the situation. Look your best

13.  Challenge negative thinking–Continue positive thinking

14.  If you need to, express your fears to a friend 

15.  Review 3 x 5 cards of inspirational thoughts

16.  Practice your talk one last time

17.  Go to the room early to ready equipment and your podium.

18.  Exercise immediately before the talk to reduce adrenalin levels. 

• • Employ anxiety reduction techniques
  • Aerobic exercise
  • Deep muscle relaxation
  • Visualization strategies
  • Deep, rhythmic breathing (4 hold 7) 

19.  Use the restroom immediately before the talk 

20. Take a glass of water to the talk 

The Presentation: A positive experience stemming from careful preparation! 

21.  Interpret anxiety symptoms as excitement

22. Use the podium to practice grounding strategies. Touch the podium to steady yourself and to remind yourself that you are safely connected to the ground which is firm and steady beneath your feet.

23. Take a security blanket with you–a complete typed version of your talk to only be used as a backup strategy.

24. Use tools to reduce audience attention on you.

• • PowerPoint presentation 
  • Video film clips
  • Handouts
  • “Show and tell” objects to pass

25.  Get out of yourself–engage the audience

26.  Look at friendly faces in your audience

27.  Use humor as needed

28.  Use the room’s physical space to your advantage–walk around as appropriate.

29.  Appropriately regulate your voice

• • Speak clearly–enunciate
  • Open your mouth–do not mumble
  • Slow down if necessary
  • Lower your voice–speak from your diaphragm
  • Project your voice–use energy when you speak
  • Use appropriate animation 

Additional Considerations 

• Seek out public speaking opportunities to desensitize (reduce) your fear of communication apprehension.

• Consider use of anti-anxiety medication

• Join Toastmasters International to have a supportive and safe way to practice

  public speaking

• Gain experience–practice makes perfect. 

Created by Kathleen H. Staley, Ph.D., for the University Counseling Service at The University of Iowa, 3223 Westlawn S, 52242-1100, 319-335-7294 

1. All of the following are strategies for coping with anxiety before the speech except:

   a. Select a subject with which you are comfortable
   b. Prepare thoroughly in advance of the speech occasion.
   c. Concentrate in particular on your introduction and conclusion.
   d. Try to memorize your entire speech.
   

2. We tend to feel greater anxiety in situations where:

   a. Others have low expectations of us.
   b. We have high personal expectations of ourselves.
   c. We are communicating in our native language.
   d. We are communicating with individuals of lower status than ourselves.
   

3. All of the following are strategies for coping with anxiety during the speech except:

   a. Concentrate on what you are saying instead of how you are saying it.
   b. Concentrate on regaining your focus and continuing if you make a mistake.
   c. Concentrate on larger, controlled movements if you find yourself making smaller, fidgety movements.
   d. Concentrate on yourself instead of the audience.
   

4. According to your textbook, the process of visualization includes several steps, two of which refer to particular perspectives you should assume. Which of the following presents these two perspectives accurately and in the correct order?

   a. Assume an external perspective in the beginning, and then begin to include an external perspective.
   b. Assume a situational perspective in the beginning, and then begin to include a demographic perspective.
   c. Assume an internal perspective in the beginning, and then begin to include an external perspective.
   d. Assume a demographic perspective in the beginning, and then begin to include a situational perspective.
   

5. One well established means of measuring generalized communication anxiety is to use McCroskey"s:

   a. Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA)
   b. Myers"Briggs Personality Profile (MBPP)
   c. Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA)
   d. Individual Stage Fright Inventory (ISFI)
   

6. Trait anxiety refers to tension generated by specific situations.

   a. True
   b. False
   

7. One suggestion for coping with speech anxiety is to memorize the entire speech.

   a. True
   b. False
   

8. Avoidance of eye contact, a flushed face, and unnatural movements are all examples of things the audience might see that could indicate speech anxiety.

   a. True
   b. False
   

9. One suggestion for reducing anxiety is to avoid using visual aids because they add more stress for the speaker.

   a. True
   b. False
   

10. Even if your mouth is getting dry, avoid taking a drink of water because it can make you lose your place.

    a. True
    b. False
    

Which of the following is likely to help you deal with nervousness in your speeches?

Which strategy is most likely to decrease speech anxiety?

How do you overcome nervousness in public speaking?

Which of the following can help most speakers deal with normal nervousness when giving a speech select all that apply?