Page 97 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

64 Part 1 Foundations

Tips and Tactics
Before Speaking

If you are overly anxious before you speak, it’s likely you will be even more so
when you are actually called on to speak. Fortunately, there are some helpful tips
you can follow to moderate your before-speaking anxiety.
• Be realistic about your goals and write them down. Becoming an effective
speaker is a process. The goals for your fi rst speech should be different from
those you write down before your second and third speeches. Regardless of
which speech you are making, your goals must be grounded in your potential
to improve as a speaker, as well as how much effort you are willing to make
to realize your potential.
• Be realistic about the comparisons you make between your abilities as a
speaker and those of your classmates or outside speakers whose skills you
admire. Becoming an effective public speaker is a process. Give yourself
time to improve before you start comparing yourself to others.
• Inventory your routine self-talk as you prepare to speak. Note what kinds
of things you routinely say to yourself and ask yourself: Do these statements
make me more or less anxious about my speech? Substitute negative state-
ments you routinely make with constructive self-talk modeled after the
constructive self-talk
examples in Exhibit 3.3.
The use of positive cop-
• Consult with your instructor about your concerns and the degree to which
ing statements instead of
negative self-talk. they are valid. Don’t assume your instructor shares your beliefs about what is
and isn’t essential to your success. Finally, do not fall victim to the misguided
idea that you will appear stupid if you seek your instructor’s counsel.

Exhibit 3.3 Constructive Self-Talk Before You Speak

Prior to Practice Actual Practice During Behavioral Rehearsal
Get off to a good start: Prepare Time for some imagery. Use my coping statements.
early . . . don’t put it off.
This will be good for me. Let’s run through this in my mind’s eye. Speak slowly and clearly.
I like this topic. Visualize the opening and hear First work on knowing content.
myself sharing the thesis statement.
Rough outline fi rst . . . there’s Visualize connecting with the audience Okay, now I know it.
time to polish later. and previewing main points.
I have plenty of information. Okay, hear and see myself make each Make eye contact with people.
point.
I bet my information will be Try to see myself from the audience’s Speak conversationally.
pretty new to my classmates. point of view.
I’ve uncovered a lot of Visualize the summary and close. Have fun with it.
interesting facts.
Lay it out logically. Try it again, but this time use relaxation Be myself but under control.
imagery too.
Time to rewrite.