Page 91 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

58 Part 1 Foundations

Why Some People Are
More Anxious Than Others

As you can tell from the comments made by our own students in Exhibit 3.2,
not all people have the same reason for being anxious about speaking in public.
The underlying sources of speech anxiety are varied. Still, research over the
past three decades has given a good picture of the most common sources of
anxieties about speaking in public. Further, recent studies reveal that the pic-
ture lay people give for speech anxiety roughly corresponds to that uncovered
in scholarly research. College students much like you, for example, report that
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lack of preparation, the fear of making mistakes, appearance concerns, projec-
tions about audience interest, and lack of previous experience can feed speech
anxiety. In a sense, these “reasons” refl ect three stages in the process of becom-

ing anxious. Stage one reflects concerns before speaking. Stage two refl ects con-
cerns that come up immediately before and during a speech. And stage three
concerns what happens after speaking.

Stage One: Managing Anxiety

Before We Speak

Many factors can preoccupy your mind and infl uence your behavior before you
speak. Major ones include: (1) uncertainty, (2) inadequate preparation and prac-
tice, (3) negative or insufficient experience, (4) a pessimistic attitude, (5) unreal-
istic goals, (6) negative self-talk, and (7) focusing more on your grade than the
process necessary to get a good grade. First we will discuss each of these sources
of anxiety in turn. Then we will discuss two useful skills, visual imagery and
relaxation techniques, that can help you manage your level of arousal as you
prepare to speak.

Uncertainty

There are two general sources of uncertainty that can make people anxious
about public speaking. One is the situation and the other is the audience. It’s
natural to feel a little uncertain and anxious when we find ourselves in unfamil-
iar situations. It’s also natural to feel uncertain and anxious when we face an
audience full of strangers. The chances are good, however, that with each op-
portunity to speak in your present class both the situation and the audience will
become increasingly familiar and comfortable for you. In a sense, you will feel
less uncertain because you can predict ahead of time what it feels like to stand in
front of a familiar classroom and group of people with whom you are becoming
well acquainted.

Inadequate Preparation and Practice

One reason for feeling uncertain about speaking is inadequate preparation and
practice. Whereas most students would never dream of entering an athletic com-
petition or taking a test crucial to their success in their major without prepara-