Chapter 1: Forget Spiders, Snakes and Claustrophobia, Public Speaking Freaks Us Out
Part 1: Lessons from Oz
Part 2: Reasons for the Fear
Part 3: Fear Exposed
What We Feel
How We Respond
Why We React
Practice Speech: Story Time
Practice Speech: Poetry Out Loud
Objectives
By the end of this chapter you should be able to:
1. Describe how Dorothy and her friends facing the Great Oz can help us face an audience with control.
2. Identify your physical response to speaking in public.
3. Explain how what we feel differs from how we react and respond.
4. Identify methods to reduce the use of filler words when speaking in public.
5. Evaluate two communication theories that help explain why the fear/anxiety exists.
There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars. —Mark Twain
Imagine that you have a message and you have to share this message with one person. How does that make you feel? Now imagine that it is five people. Okay…50? 500? What instinctual thoughts come to mind if I told you that you had to speak in front of 5000 people? Did your level of anxiety change with the number of people? People’s anxiety level often correlates directly with the number of people in the audience. Why?
Part 1: Lessons from Oz
Do you remember watching the movie classic, The Wizard of Oz (1939)? Dorothy and her friends travelled on an incredible journey in the hopes of meeting the Great Oz. When they arrived, the less than enthusiastic greeting ended with Oz declining their request for an audience. The group insisted, and eventually the Great Oz appeared. The heartless Tin Man, the brainless Scarecrow, the cowardly Lion, and the distraught Dorothy all stood shaking and terrified by the vast powers they imagined him to have.
Smoke and light billowed from the room as Oz spoke words that seemed to make the earth tremble. However, the smallest member of the team took no heed of the others. Little Toto, Dorothy’s dog, ran over and peeled back the curtain, revealing the control booth where a mortal man stood, anxiously grasping and clutching various buttons and levers, attempting to maintain the facade.
My clients often experience the same terror Dorothy and her friends displayed as they stand before an audience. Like the characters in the Wizard of Oz, the anxiety-shaken speaker allows irrational fear to interfere with performance—in essence, they disempower themselves. Often, just moments before, these trembling individuals addressed the same group from their seats, raised their hands, participated, and boldly shared their ideas only to shrink in stature, reduced to a bumbling sack of nerves when they stand before the same group to deliver a presentation. What changed? How does the difference between a seat “within” the group to the space “in front” of the audience change a person’s entire demeanor and state of mind?
One of my favorite quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt (O’Toole, 2012), warns us of falling prey to insecurities. She stated,
No one can make you feel intimidated except yourself. – Eleanor Roosevelt
An audience has no more magical powers than the Wizard of Oz. Our perception of the experience fuels the terror. The mere thought of standing before an audience is more than most can stand, leading to fear and avoidance. So, claim personal power and don’t follow Dorothy’s example of ceding control to your audience.
Interaction 1.1: A Lesson From Oz
Question: What lesson do we learn from Dorothy and her friends about how to handle anxiety in the face of the unknown?
a. Trust the unknown, embrace the experience.
b. Don’t ever trust anyone except yourself.
c. Resist the urge to feed fear of the unknown. Manage your perceptions and hold onto your power.
d. Remember that both parties are equally anxious.
Part 2: Reasons for the Fear
It’s human nature to want to make a positive impression on other people. Billions of dollars are spent each year to create just the right image so that others perceive us in a certain way. For example, consider your wardrobe, jewelry, personal hygiene (haircuts, makeup, waxing), vehicles, houses—the list is endless. We deliberately spend money to create the image we want to convey to others.
Speaking in public often accentuates concern about our image, in proportion to the size of the audience. The prospect of making less than a great impression can leave you feeling vulnerable. Uncertainty erupts, fanning flames of anxiety. This anxiety that many experience is common indeed. Numerous research instruments and studies spanning decades reveal that a majority of people report experiencing anxiety when faced with speaking in front of a group of people (Bodie, 2010; McCrosky, 1970; Stein, Walker & Ford, 1996).
In relative terms, do you know how much anxiety you experience? Is it high, medium, or low? Let’s find out! In 1970, McCroskey developed the first scale to measure communication apprehension as it relates to public speaking anxiety. This scale is highly reliable. Take the Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA) test to determine your anxiety level.
If I went back to college again, I’d concentrate on two areas: learning to write and to speak before an audience. Nothing in life is more important than the ability to communicate effectively. — Gerald R. Ford
Interaction 1.2: How Much Public Speaking Anxiety Do You Experience?
Instructions: Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety
This instrument is composed of thirty-four statements concerning feelings about communicating with other people. Indicate the degree to which the statements apply to you by marking whether you (1) strongly agree, (2) agree, (3) are undecided, (4) disagree, or (5) strongly disagree with each statement. Work quickly; record your first impression.
1. While preparing to give a speech, I feel tense and nervous.
2. I feel tense when I see the words “speech” and “public speech” on a course outline when studying.
3. My thoughts become confused and jumbled when I am giving a speech.
4. Right after giving a speech I feel that I have had a pleasant experience.
5. I get anxious when I think about a speech coming up.
6. I have no fear of giving a speech.
7. Although I am nervous just before starting a speech, I soon settle down after starting and feel calm and comfortable.
8. I look forward to giving a speech.
9. When the instructor announces a speaking assignment in class, I can feel myself getting tense.
10. My hands tremble when I am giving a speech.
11. I feel relaxed when I am giving a speech.
12. I enjoy preparing for a speech.
13. I am in constant fear of forgetting what I prepared to say.
14. I get anxious if someone asks me something about my topic that I do not know.
15. I face the prospect of giving a speech with confidence.
16. I feel that I am in complete possession of myself while giving a speech.
17. My mind is clear when giving a speech.
18. I do not dread giving a speech.
19. I perspire just before starting a speech.
20. My heart beats very fast just as I start a speech.
21. I experience considerable anxiety while sitting in the room just before my speech starts.
22. Certain parts of my body feel very tense and rigid while giving a speech.
23. Realizing that only a little time remains in a speech makes me very tense and anxious.
24. While giving a speech, I know I can control my feelings of tension and stress.
25. I breathe faster just before starting a speech.
26. I feel comfortable and relaxed in the hour or so just before giving a speech.
27. I do poorer on speeches because I am anxious.
28. I feel anxious when the teacher announces the date of a speaking assignment.
29. When I make a mistake while giving a speech, I find it hard to concentrate on the parts that follow.
30. During an important speech I experience a feeling of helplessness building up inside me.
31. I have trouble falling asleep the night before a speech.
32. My heart beats very fast while I present a speech.
33. I feel anxious while waiting to give my speech.
34. While giving a speech, I get so nervous I forget facts I really know.
Scoring: To determine your score on the PRPSA, complete the following steps:
Step 1. Add scores for items 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34
Step 2. Add the scores for items 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24, and 26
Step 3. Complete the following formula:
PRPSA = 72 - Total from Step 2 + Total from Step 1. Your score should be between 34 and 170. If your score is below 34 or above 170, you have made a mistake in computing the score.
My Score
a. High level of public speaking anxiety = > 131
b. Moderate level of public speaking anxiety = 98-131
c. Low level of public speaking anxiety = < 98
Why do you think people fear public speaking? Stein, Walker and Forde (1996) asked participants a similar question and found people were afraid of: doing or saying something embarrassing (64%), their mind going blank (74%), being unable to continue talking (63%), saying foolish things or not making sense (59%), and trembling, shaking, or showing other signs of anxiety (80%). When I asked this question, a variety of answers emerge from the audience. The following list, The Top Ten Reasons People Fear Public Speaking, is based on a survey I conducted based on over 2000 student reports (Steele J.R., 2016).
Table 1.1: Top Ten Reasons People Fear Public Speaking (lowest to highest)
#10 Fear of the audience.
The number of people is intimidating.
#9 Fear of rejection.
The audience will shut you down and not want to listen. You don’t think your thoughts are worth it!
#8 Fear of the unknown.
You are not used to the experience. You feel insecure trying something new. There is a general paranoia of “But what if . . . !”
#7 Fear of harsh criticism.
Criticism can be very difficult to handle. Feedback of any type can leave you feeling vulnerable as you open yourself to hear another’s thoughts about you!
#6 Fear of being unprepared.
Concerned about not being able to answer questions or that other people might know more than you do.
#5 Fear of looking stupid.
Lack the confidence to stand in front of an audience. You don’t want to have to be held accountable for your words.
#4 Fear of failing or not doing something right.
“Oh, my, what if I don’t represent myself well?” or “How can I express this idea better?”
#3 Fear of making a mistake.
You don’t want others to witness your imperfections. You want others to see you as perfect! “What if I fail?” or “What if I forget all my words and blank out?”
#2 Fear of being judged by people.
Knowing that eyes are evaluating you and sizing you up!
#1 Fear of attention.
Being looked at or singled out in front of peers. It seems most people don’t wish to be the center of attention.
Does this list accurately display your reasons for the fear? Undoubtedly, speaking in public is a real fear that most people experience to some degree. A student of mine named Elvis, a veteran of the first Iraq war, was years older than typical freshmen when he returned to college. He told me, “I have faced real combat situations with bullets flying and missiles exploding and never experienced the stress of being in that little space in front of these desks. You have no idea what that space does to a man.”
Part 3: Fear Exposed
What We Feel: Psychological
Public speaking evokes a wide range of emotions within presenters that range from mild to severe, from stress to fear, even to phobia. People talk about their fear, comedians joke about the fear. For example, Jerry Seinfeld said, “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two? Does that seem right? To the average person that means that if they have to go to a funeral, they’d be better off in the casket than giving the eulogy.” While Seinfeld may be taking a few liberties with the research, public speaking evokes a strong response in most people. Some have exposed themselves to the stage enough that they have come to enjoy the experience—it can be a rush, almost intoxicating, as anxiety turns into euphoria when the audience response is positive.
This section is specifically valuable for those who have not conquered this anxiety and do not understand these emotions. Stein, Walker, and Forde (1996) interviewed 499 respondents. One third reported that they had excessive anxiety when they spoke to a large audience. McCrosky (1970) reports that 70% of college students express a fear of public speaking. Let’s take a moment to distinguish between three key words: fear, phobia, and anxiety.
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Interaction 3: Who’s Afraid of Public Speaking?
Identify which of the following famous people expressed a deep fear of public speaking.
Adele
Aristotle
Rowan Atkinson
Warren Buffett
Winston Churchill
Leonardo DiCaprio
Harrison Ford
Sigmund Freud
Mahatma Gandhi
Rebecca Gibney
Hugh Grant
Samuel L. Jackson
Thomas Jefferson
Steve Jobs
Nicole Kidman
King George VI
Abraham Lincoln
Sir Isaac Newton
Joel Olstean
Anthony Quinn
Julia Roberts
Margaret Sanger
Jimmy Stewart
Barbara Streisand
Bruce Willis
Oprah Winfrey
Reese Witherspoon
Tiger Woods
Answer: All of the above had a deep fear of public speaking.
Fear
Many words have been written about fear throughout the ages. In his inaugural address, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States declared (1933), “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” I once heard a speaker report that “FEAR” stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. No matter if it is real or imagined, fear is a big industry. Fear is instinctual; it is a primitive emotion aroused by a perceived threat to our personal safety or interests. Some fears are objective, such as a car hydroplaning on the highway, while others are psychological, as in a fear of a person or situation that seems to threaten status or prestige. Sometimes we are conscious of our fears, while other times we are completely unaware. Whatever the case, fear can wreak havoc on our soul. Experience conditions us to respond with fear or not. Our ideas about fear differ greatly.
A hint of fear can add intensity to an experience. Some may be attracted to fear, maybe most. But not all seek it out. Plenty of us refuse to read Steven King, ride roller coasters stand on the edge of cliffs or climb the high diving board. Consider cultural traditions such as Day of the Dead observed in many Latin cultures which honors deceased loved ones by creating altars, masks and visiting the dead graves with gifts. Another holiday which originated in Eastern Europe features Krumpus, a horned folklore figure that is half-goat, half demon, who during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved. Throughout the world, scary costumes are donned and décor displayed to celebrate Halloween. Each year millions of people flock to Haunted Houses to be scared. What started as Fright Nights back in 1991 quickly became Halloween Horror Nights as Universal Studios realized that people’s desire to be scared was big business. Today, Universal Studio’s theme parks in Orlando, Japan, Singapore, and Hollywood annually scare hundreds of thousands of park goers who subject themselves by happily paying over $100 to be terrified! The emotion evoked from this the anticipation of being frightened adds excitement. Capitalizing on fear can be a big business—too many profit over others’ plight.
You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear. – Sammy Davis, Jr.
Dread
What is dread and how does it differ from fear? We usually think of dread as a state of apprehension that persists over a longer period. When is the last time you have really dreaded an event or required confrontation? It can be a horrific feeling, impacting our outlook. It’s that feeling that many speakers get when they realize they have a future speaking engagement. Research shows that the highest level of anxiety is experienced immediately after a speech is assigned (Behnke & Sawyer, 2001). When we talk of fear of public speaking this is different than dread. The fear of public speaking tends to occur closer to the speaking engagement, usually just before a performance. Dread, however, is the anxious wait contemplating an unknown outcome.
Social Phobia
The Encyclopedia of Phobias, Fears and Anxieties defines social phobia as “extreme fear of being evaluated, criticized, censured, embarrassed and humiliated, or in some way, punished in a social setting by the reactions of others” (Doctor, 2008 or Hamner & Arana, 2007). They go on to explain, “The essential feature of a social phobia is a persistent distinct fear of social or performance situations in which embarrassment may occur.” Remember the top reasons people fear public speaking? Notice the direct correlation with this definition. Each concern listed in the definition is amplified by standing in front of an audience.
Table 1.2: Fear Exposed
|
What we feel |
How we react & respond |
|
Dread = terror or apprehension of future event Fear = primitive (DNA) emotion to a perceived threat Phobia = persistent irrational fear (most extreme) |
Stress = pressure exerted on one thing by another Anxiety = distress or unease marked by physiologically, verbal & nonverbal signs Fight, Flight or Freeze |
Fight, Flight or Freeze
A specific phobia has been coined to address this phenomenon: “glossophobia,” coming from the Greek word ‘glosso,’ meaning tongue, and ‘phobos,’ meaning fear or dread. Glossophobia is characterized as intense anxiety brought on by having to speak in public (Doctor, 2008). About 7% of all people self-identify as having a social phobia (these numbers vary between different regions and cultures Pollard, et al., 1989). While that number amounts to several million people, this is not the majority of the population. Glossophobia does not discriminate; it affects people of all backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and ages. In the Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemeology (Furmark, et al., 1999), public speaking was cited as the most common social fear. Of those who identify as having a phobia, 89.4% include public speaking (Faravelli et al., 2000). Of those that have a social phobia, Pollard, et al. (1989) found only about 8% seek help.
Those who do not seek help experience:
• 10% lower graduation levels,
• 15% reduction in ability to move into a managerial position,
• 10% reduction in wages.
These statistics do not begin to capture the impact these phobias can have on our relationships. If the thought of communicating to a group causes you to avoid the situation, drop classes, or quit, or if this anxiety disrupts your everyday life, you are experiencing a phobia. Seek professional help! A licensed therapist in conjunction with a public speaking coach would be a great combination.
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. —Mark Twain
The good news is that the success rate is high for those who get help. David Barlow, director of Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders says 90% of people can be cured (Travis, 2004). New research is exploring ways to scientifically eliminate anxiety. Techniques range from inoculation therapy (Compton, Thornton & Dimmock, 2017) aimed at helping presenters interpret their speech-related anxiety more positively to honing public speaking skills in front of nonjudgmental “audience dogs” (Fandos, 2016). Unbelievably, students at American University are encouraged to practice their speeches to an audience of canines! Here’s a quote from their program, “Addressing a friendly and nonjudgmental canine can lower blood pressure, decrease stress and elevate mood—perfect for practicing your speech or team presentation.” So help is on the way and in many forms!
Interaction 1.4: How Does Your Body React When You Stand in Front of an Audience to Speak?
Circle all that apply.
Physiological
Dry mouth
Enhanced sweat production
Increased heart rate
Nausea
Increased blood pressure
Stiffening of muscles
Non Verbal
Nervous shaking
Redundant behavior such as rocking back and forth, pacing, touching a part of the body repetitively, etc.
Avoiding looking at the audience
Blinking or not blinking (deer in the headlight look—eyes wide open)
Twisting legs
Verbal
Stuttering
Using filler words including “like,” “um,” and “so,” etc.
Speaking too quickly
Inability to speak at all—freezing up
Speaking too softly
Interaction 1.5: Is Your Life Limited by Fear, Dread or Phobia Associated with Speaking?
Does your unease regarding public speaking limit your life? If so, how?
If you could overcome or manage your fear, how would your life be different?
How We React & Respond: Physiological
Unfortunately, the mental anguish public speaking causes is not the end of this anxious saga, our physical response and individual reactions can be agonizing, even debilitating. Reports from people who have examined their fear and anxiety about public speaking consistently support the conclusion that symptom severity is directly correlated with degree of stress experienced and the anxiety created. Although the terms “stress” and “anxiety” are often interchanged, there is a difference, let’s distinguish between them.
Stress
Whenever pressure is applied from one thing to another, stress occurs. As it pertains to public speaking, when we agree to speak at an event, pressure about the speaking engagement is applied to the speaker. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2017) defines stress as, “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” Our reaction to the stress creates anxiety. Simply put, “stress is the response we have to a threat and anxiety is a reaction to the stress” (ADAA, 2017). Adrenaline is a hormone released in stressful situations. When it flows, it triggers specific organ responses similar to symptoms of shock. These responses may include increased heart rate, trembling, sweaty palms, gastrointestinal illness including nausea, knots and butterflies and a lump in the throat. Any of these may result from the stress created by speaking in public. (Chambers, et al. 1984; Clements and Turpin, 1996 and Behnke, Beatty, & Kitchens 1978). While there are many tips to manage stress from relaxation techniques to avoiding caffeine and alcohol, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (2017) reminds us that physical activity is a proven way to reduce stress.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a manifestation of stress created by the pressure applied from the“dread”, “fears” and or “phobias.” It is among the many adverse effects of stress. The medical definition of anxiety by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2017) is, “an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it.” Therefore, the degree of anxiety you experience physically is in direct proportion to the amount of fear you perceive. In cases where anxiety persists over a six month period of time, it can be considered a legitimate mental disorder, stress on the other hand is not (Groberman, 2017).
Fight, Flight or Freeze
Typically, there are three responses to severe stress: fight, flight, or freeze. In 1915, Cannon first identified that fear is often accompanied by a physiological reaction controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Adrenaline flows, causing a variety of reactions: pulse rate increases, sweat glands activate, mouth dries, limbs tremble, face pales (Caxton Encyclopedia, 1977). Historically this has been referred to as the “fight or flight” syndrome, and even Darwin explained this evolutionary phenomenon (Workman, 1977). Scientists recently added another response to the list, “freeze,” giving us three responses to stress: fight, flight, or freeze.
Let’s explore how these reactions manifest themselves in different ways as it relates to public speaking. My experience as a “coach” has allowed me to witness each of these reactions. The “fight” response often manifests itself as friction between the speaker, the instructor, the speech, the event coordinator and sometimes even audience members. Come presentation day, the excuses that pour in can literally drown the class. I have had situations where out of fifteen speeches scheduled for a particular day there were three deaths from family members, four hospital emergencies, and five car breakdowns which tragically rendered the presenters unable to deliver their speech. Perhaps the most memorable excuse I have heard from a presenter who was practicing her speech on her balcony when a bird flew overhead and pooped on the ground where she was causing her to step on it, slip and fall over a chair and table finally landing on the concrete patio. In the process she pulled out her back completely and lay for hours unable to move in the scorching hot sun on her balcony until her roommate returned. Her description was so vivid, I allowed her another presentation opportunity just for the laugh she provided. Her back, miraculously healed by the next class. “Flee” amounts to finding excuses to avoid the event, maybe even running out before the speech or even mid speech. “Freeze” is when you find yourself facing the audience and you are unable to move or speak.
What is your instinctual reaction to a threat? Do you fight, run or freeze? Who wants to endure the torture of any of these responses? When it comes to public speaking, people often seek to escape from the experience or avoid it altogether. In 2017, 1511 adults responded to the Chapman University Survey on American Fears. Results disclosed that 25.9% were afraid or very afraid of public speaking, coming in second place just below reptiles. To see a full list of fears from the Chapman study visit this link .
Reactions vary drastically. On one side of the pendulum lies a serious social phobia and on the other a manageable, mild anxiety.
Avoid Using Filler Words
Our reaction can cause us to speak utter nonsense! This verbal reaction is so prevalent it needs to be addressed. How can you avoid filling pauses with filler words? A filler word or discourse marker is an apparently meaningless word, phrase, or sound that marks a pause or hesitation in speech (Safir, 1925). Also known as a pause filler or hesitation form. Some of the common filler words in English are um, uh, er, ah, like, okay, right, and you know. While these words often pepper general conversation, studies show that anxiety or stress trigger a significant increase in the number and variety. For some, stuttering or “disruptions in the production of speech sounds, also called ‘disfluencies’ actually occurs” (ASHA, 2017). The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), explains that “these disfluencies can impede communication when a person produces too many of them.” So like, um, this topic is you know, like really, really important folks. Ah, I mean, we kinda, like, all use these, um, phrases and, or, ah, words to kinda, um, get our message across. And . . . ah, sometimes we can kind of like elongate our aaaannnnddds ooorrrrr other conjunctions. OK? Does that make sense?
Interaction 1.6: Filler Word Trivia
Filler Word Trivia: circle your favorite filler words.
Like
Right
Ah
I mean
Okay
Er
You know
So
Totally
Um
Who uses the most filler words? Check all that apply:
____ Women
____ Men
____ Younger
____ Older
____ Disorganized Person
____ Conscientious Person
Why do we insert filler words? Check all that apply:
____ Stall for time
____ Strengthen a statement
____ Reduce harshness of statement
____ Include listener
____ Show you are thinking
____ All of the above
Answer: Women, Younger, Conscientious Person (Laserna, Seih & Pennebaker, 2014)
When filler words are used, they impair the communication process for two reasons. First, they dilute the message. How would you feel if you asked for a drink and received one diluted with water or too much ice? What would your reaction be? If you don’t want your audience to have the same response, work on developing awareness of using these words and practice pausing to think before you speak. Secondly, Brennan & Williams (1995), found that audiences interpret pauses filled with meaningless phrases to mean that speakers do not know what they are talking about. This decreases the speaker’s credibility.
The beginning of the speech is generally the most stressful. This causes many speakers to begin with a barrage of irrelevant words, phrases and thoughts. Careful attention and preparation can help you avoid this trap.
Interaction 1.7: Reduce Filler Words
Step 1: Choose one of these topics: aliens, Academy Awards, sports, self-driving cars, pets, Sunday afternoons, habits, rainy days, theater, college, stock market, politics, or travel.
Step 2: Speak spontaneously for two minutes, delivering an impromptu speech using the word prompt you selected without using any filler words. Make every attempt to include the elements of a speech—an introduction, body and conclusion. Time yourself. Be sure you speak without using any filler words. The first time you use one, you are forgiven, the second time, your time is up! How long can you speak without using a filler word?
Record yourself speaking and listen for the patterns you use to “fill the space...”
This is a great activity to do with friends, even at a party; you can also do it alone by recording your speech. Repeat this activity as often as you like until you can reach the goal and control your use of filler words.
Positive Benefits of Stress and Anxiety
Is stress and anxiety inherently a bad thing for us to experience? No. Stress and anxiety can help or harm us. Stress related to an upcoming event can propel you to work harder on preparation and be ready to give a great speech! On the other hand, if fear overtakes and debilitates you, rendering you unable to focus and perform, it harms you.
Yerkes-Dodson Law
Most speakers and performers exhibit some type of anxiety before they take to the stage. A certain amount of anxiety when performing complex tasks, such as speaking in front of an audience, can be a good thing when it spurs the speaker to optimal performance. Research (Yerkes-Dodson, 1908) has shown a relationship between arousal and performance. A heightened sense of physiological arousal may lead to enhanced performance, but only to a certain point after which performance decreases. This graph shows the relationship.
Figure 1.1: Yerkes-Dodson Law
Diamond DM, et al. (2007). “The Temporal Dynamics Model of Emotional Memory Processing: A Synthesis on the Neurobiological Basis of Stress-Induced Amnesia, Flashbulb and Traumatic Memories, and the Yerkes-Dodson Law”. Neural Plasticity: 33. doi:10.1155/2007/60803. PMID 17641736.
The key concept to understand here is that everyone gets a bit nervous when speaking in public. If you can keep your anxiety in “the zone” then you can perform at your peak. Conversely, if you don’t overcome your anxiety when speaking, then your performance may suffer.
Reducing Anxiety
An array of situations can serve to heighten or decrease the amount of anxiety you experience. Some may feel anxious about a particular event at a particular time (state anxiety); others feel anxious about the event because of the circumstances (trait anxiety) (Behnke & Sawyer, 2001). Other typical factors include the number of people in the audience, who the people are, how critical they will be, how their opinions can impact you, whether or not you are prepared, the layout of the room, your expertise in the field, and the significance of your presentation.
As you develop your public speaking skills, do everything you can to reduce the anxiety you feel. John Travis (2004) in his article, Fear Not, shows we can conquer fear. “It’s not a simple matter of erasing scary memories. Instead, it seems that people can learn to suppress a fright reaction by repeatedly confronting, in a safe manner, the fear-triggering memory or stimulus.”
What are ways that we can “repeatedly and safely confront the stimulus”? A variety of strategies can help. It makes sense that being well prepared would reduce your anxiety. One of the first studies in 1989 by Daly, Vangelisti, Neel, & Cavanaugh revealed that familiarity with the audience and environment helped to reduce anxiety. O’Hair et al, (2001) found that practice could instill individuals with confidence and positive attitudes toward speech performances. Smith and Frymier (2007) found that practicing before an audience is key — the larger the audience, the better! The bad news is that people who experience the most anxiety prefer focusing on slides and cards rather than facing an audience (Verderber & Verderber, 2002).
Table 1.3: Research Says You Can Reduce Your Anxiety