This document discusses strategies for managing speech anxiety. It identifies common causes of public speaking anxiety such as a lack of experience, feeling like the center of attention, and pre-speech nerves. It then provides tips for reducing anxiety through preparation, practice, positive visualization, relaxation techniques, and incorporating movement. The document stresses preparing thoroughly, rehearsing often, and learning from feedback to build confidence over time.

1. A POCKET
GUIDE TO
PUBLIC
SPEAKING
5TH EDITION
Chapter 3
Managing Speech Anxiety

2. Public Speaking Tips
Click Below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tShavGuo0_E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNOXZumCXNM

3. Identify What
Makes You Anxious
Public-speaking anxiety (PSA)
 Fear or anxiety
 Associated with actual or anticipated
communication to audience as speaker
Identify what makes you anxious.
 Can help lessen your fear

4. Lack of Positive Experience
Speech anxiety can be caused by
 Lack of exposure to public speaking;
 Unpleasant public speaking experiences.
Gaining experience helps you overcome
anxiety.

5. Feeling Different
Common causes of speech anxiety
 Feeling alone
 Feeling sensitive about personal idiosyncrasies
 Fear that no one is interested
Everyone is different in many ways.
Nearly everyone experiences nervousness.

6. Being the Center of Attention
Audience behaviors causing speech anxiety
 Lack of making eye contact
 Conversing with a neighbor
Self-consciousness can make you feel
conspicuous.
Audiences often notice only what we reveal.

7. Pinpoint the Onset of Anxiety
Anxiety can strike at different times.
Anxiety may cause procrastination or poor
performance.
Identify the first onset of nervousness.
 Allows you to address it promptly
with specific anxiety-reducing techniques

8. Pre-Preparation Anxiety
Consequences
 Reluctance to begin planning
 Preoccupation with anxiety
 Missing vital information about the speech
Address anxiety early with stress-reducing
techniques.

9. Preparation Anxiety
Produces a cycle of
 Stress;
 Procrastination;
 Outright avoidance.
Take short breaks to regain confidence.

10. Pre-Performance Anxiety
May occur while rehearsing the speech
Can cause you to stop rehearsing

11. Pre-Performance Anxiety
(cont.)
Use the anxiety stop-time technique.
 Allow anxiety to present itself.
 Wait a few minutes.
 Declare time for confidence to step in.
 Proceed.

12. Performance Anxiety
May occur as the speech begins
Control nervousness during the introduction.
 Rest of the speech comes easily
Manage anxiety.
 Don’t let anxiety manage you.

13. Use Proven Strategies
to Build Your Confidence
Many strategies can help reduce fears.
Thoroughly plan for each presentation.

14. Prepare and Practice
Begin preparing as soon as possible.
Rehearse your speech several times.

15. Modify Thoughts and Attitudes
Have a positive attitude.
Envision your speech as
 Valuable;
 Worthwhile;
 Challenging;
 An opportunity for personal growth.

16. Visualize Success
Visualization helps reduce nervousness.
 Close your eyes.
 Picture the day of your speech.
 Visualize positive feelings and reactions.

17. Activate the
Relaxation Response
“Fight or flight” response
 Rapid heart rate and breathing
 Dry mouth and faintness
 Freezing up
Relaxation response counteracts these
sensations.

18. Activate the
Relaxation Response (cont.)
Briefly meditate.
 Relax your muscles and breathe slowly.
 Repeat a word or phrase.
Use stress-control breathing.
 Inhale; let your abdomen go out.
 Exhale; let your abdomen go in.

19. Use Movement
to Minimize Anxiety
Practice natural gestures used while
speaking.
 Example: Hold up your index finger.
Move as you speak.
 Relieves tension
 Helps hold audience’s attention

20. Learn from Feedback
Welcome feedback.
 Opportunity to do better next time
Pay attention to objective evaluations.
Feedback is meant to help you.