Chapter Summary

Many people fear public speaking; however, a small amount of nervousness (or positive anxiety) can have beneficial effects. The degree of fear of public speaking varies from person to person. The preconceived notions that a speaker has about an audience before delivering a speech are known as audience expectations; these audience expectations can affect the degree to which a speaker fears public speaking.

Often, fears arise when you begin imagining all the possible scenarios that could go wrong during the speech, such as forgetting your speech or losing your place while presenting your speech; these thoughts are known as your inner voice. People who are speaking publicly may fear being criticized. Other fears associated with the audience are related to such factors as the audience size, whether the audience members are strangers, and whether the audience members are in the same peer group.

There are several common physical reactions that occur when you are experiencing speech anxiety. Examples of common internal reactions are rising blood pressure, a queasy stomach, shaky hands, a dry mouth, and a flushed face. Examples of external reactions that frequently occur are a shaky or trembling voice, uncontrollable laughter, clenching the podium, and talking too much.

Online Links

Speakers Platform (Page 31)
www.speaking.com

Stress Busters (Page 33)
www.stressrelease.com/strssbus.html

The Stress of Life.com (Page 41)
http://thestressoflife.com

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