Page 98 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Self-Assessment

What Are the Sources of Your Speech Anxiety?

Listed below are common sources of speech anxiety. As you read each item, consider how
much it contributes to the anxiety you experience about public speaking. Rate each item on a
scale of 1 to 10, from least important to most important.

SOURCES OF SPEECH ANXIETY LEAST IMPORTANT/MOST IMPORTANT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Your attitude toward speaking ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Lack of preparation and practice ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Previous experiences with speaking ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
—lack of or bad experiences
Unrealistic goals ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Perception of your audience as ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
hostile or unsympathetic
Negative self-talk ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Misdirected concerns with how ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
you will be evaluated

Rearrange the items in order of importance. Use this hierarchy to better understand the
sources of your speech anxiety. What steps can you take to address and change your pat-
terns of thought and behavior?

1. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________________________________________

There are at least two other skills you can use in advance of speaking:
(1) visual imagery and (2) relaxation techniques. These skills are excellent com-
plements to the preceding tips and deserve additional comment.

Visual Imagery

Visual imagery is another way to rehearse your speech. It is the process of visual imagery
mentally seeing (imagining) yourself performing an action or a series of actions. The process of men-
Instead of practicing your speech out loud, you visually imagine yourself confi - tally seeing (imagining)
dently and successfully giving the speech. Visual imagery is widely practiced in oneself confi dently and
successfully performing
archery, baseball, basketball, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, kayaking, ski- an action or a series of
ing, and snow boarding. Athletes who use visual imagery include golfer Tiger actions.
Woods, quarterback Peyton Manning, and professional ice skater Kristi Yama-
guchi. Visual imagery is part of the practice routines of whole teams as well. 65