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Public
Speaking Anxiety |
Public
speaking anxiety, often referred
to as speech anxiety or stage
fright, involves a central fear of being
scrutinized or evaluated by others. This fear
is often accompanied by a variety of physical
and emotional reactions that can significantly
interfere with a person's ability to successfully
give a speech
or presentation, including
intense feelings of anxiety,
worry, nervousness,
trembling or shaking,
sweating, and/or dizziness.
Many people consider public speaking
among their worst fears in life. Even as one may
be called upon to speak in a social gathering
they shy off that opportunity, withdraw or avoid
the challenge. Students, for example, may struggle
through, or seek to avoid altogether, a required
public
speaking course; job candidates consumed
with anxiety may sell themselves short or project
an inferior image of themselves during an interview
in front of potential employers; individuals may
choose a job or career of limited potential; business
professionals or workers may be passed up for,
or even refuse outright, a promotion because of
their fears surrounding speaking
in front of others. Choosing to avoid
public speaking will feed the anxiety.
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| Anxiety
is a multi-system response to a perceived threat or danger that
reflects a combination of biochemical changes in the body, the
[persons] personal history and memory, and the social [or communication]
situation (Frey, 1999). As you feed it, the fear
and stress will continue to grow making it
more difficult to overcome. Some people tremble or shake and
sweat profusely---their hands especially begin to feel moist.
Other people notice that their heart rate begins to quicken
and their mouths become parched. |
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- Shuffling
from foot to foot
- Not
knowing what to do with one's hands
- Stuttering
and stumbling over words
- Speaking
too fast
- Not
looking at the audience while speaking
- Referring
to written notes too many times
- Clearing
one's throat repeatedly
Most people
find that their mind begins to “race”, their thoughts
become jumbled, and they have great difficulty putting their
thoughts into any coherent order. By correctly understanding
the hidden causes of public speaking stress,
and if you keeping just a few key principles in mind, speaking
in public will become a satisfying experience.
- Thinking
that public speaking is inherently stressful.
- Thinking
you need to be brilliant or perfect to succeed.
- Trying
to impart too much information or cover too many points
in a short presentation.
- Having
the wrong purpose in mind.
- Trying
to please everyone.
- Trying
to emulate other speakers rather than simply being yourself.
- Failing
to be personally revealing and humble.
- Fear
of potential negative outcomes and of making mistakes.
- Trying
to control the wrong things.
- Spending
too much time overpreparing.
- Thinking
your audience will be as critical of your performance as
you might be.
- Fear
of being judged
- Fear
of not being liked
- Fear
of being boring and not having anything worthwhile to say
- Fear
of being exposed as an imposter - as someone who isn't really
an expert
- Fear
of losing one's place during the talk
- Discomfort
with being the center of attention
It is
important to bear in mind these 3 pointers:
- Pointer
1: People want you to succeed
- Pointer
2: People want to learn from you
- Pointer
3: You can't always tell what your audience is thinking.
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