Chapter 2: Building Confidence

1. Chapter 2:Building Confidence

2. Understanding Communication Apprehension • Confidence is the feeling you have when you believe that you are capable of handling a situation successfully. • Communication apprehension means that we are afraid to speak in public situations. • A fear is a biological process by which animals, including humans, secure the necessary energy to do an activity even if it may cause physical or psychological injury. • #20B – When fear reaches a certain level, it becomes what is known as a phobia or a persistent irrational fear. • Topophobia is sometimes called performance anxiety or stage fright and is when someone is afraid of getting in front of others. • Phonophobia is the overall fear of speaking aloud.

3. Understanding Communication Apprehension • The “Top 10 Fears” of Americans are • 10. Dogs • 9. Loneliness • 8. Flying • 7. Death • 6. Sickness • 5. Deep water • 4. Financial problems • 3. Insects and bugs • 2. Heights • 1. PUBLIC SPEAKING

4. Understanding Communication Apprehension • #1T/F- Stage fright is most evident right before we speak and during the first thirty seconds or so after we have actually opened or mouths. • #2T/F- When we are suffering from stage fright, our heart rates may increase to twice the normal level. • #3T/F- Stage fright is NOT a figment of our imagination, and it can be a serious speaking problem. • #4T/F- Studies show that many fear the thought of giving a speech more than they do the thought of dying. • #5T/F- Research shows that most people’s stage fears do not occur because they suffer from real speaking problems. • Speakers with stage fright can also suffer from dizziness, a flushed face, excessive perspiration, shortness of breath, and the urge to go to the restroom.

5. Establishing an Accurate Perception • #21B- Many high school students are often afraid to speak because they fear being unfairly stereotyped. • Perception refers to how you see things. • #1IC- The two ways that you can cure a negative image of yourself is to recognize your own worth and don’t be afraid to be human. • #6T/F- Your audience will forgive a speaking error or problem because they know that no one’s perfect. • #7T/F- You should never think of a speech as a performance. You’re just sharing information. • #8T/F- Many people make giving a speech more difficult than it really is.

6. Establishing an Accurate Perception • #9T/F- Honest intrapersonal communication is one cure for stage fright. • #10T/F- Many people equate making one mistake with total failure. • #11T/F- An error can lead to personal discovery. In other words, you can learn from your mistake. • #12T/F- Confident people are not born with confidence. Confident people learn to be confident and gain self-esteem by experience. • What to do if you make a mistake –smile, remember you’re human, take a deep breath, and correct it the next time. • #7IC- An accurate perception of yourself contributes to your speaking ability because it helps calm your fears, you can learn from your mistakes, and you can see yourself as a success.

7. Examining the Planks of Confidence • #2IC- The “planks” of confidence are • Content • Organization • Notes • Friendliness • Impression • Dedication • Empathy • Newness • Conviction • Enthusiasm

8. Content • Content means having something worthwhile to say. • Research helps build solid content. • #3IC- Several ways to build content is to go to the library, read, interview an expert, and watch or read the news.

9. Organization • Organization means having an outline for both you and the audience to follow. • #13T/F- A good speaker does not always rely on “the spontaneity of the moment.” A good speaker always plans ahead. • Even the best speakers need a main idea, supporting information, and evidence to make their speech believable.

10. Notes • #22B- A notecard can be a comforting “security net” in case you fear losing your place in a speech. • #23B- The two greatest problems regarding notes for a speech are too many words on a card and too many cards. • #14T/F- If you are suffering from stage fright, it is NOT all right to read from your notes.

11. Friendliness • Be friendly. The audience will respond in kind. • #15T/F- Being likable is the “magic bullet” to speaking. This is because if people like you, they are more likely to listen to you. • Don’t be afraid to smile.

12. Impression • Getting off to a good start is essential to building good confidence. • #4IC- The two ways to convey a good first impression are have a positive attitude and dress and groom properly. • #16T/F- Fifty-five percent of what others think of you is determined before you ever open your mouth. • #17T/F- Dress and grooming have everything to do with the impression you make on others.

13. Dedication • Practice, practice, practice. • #18T/F- A bad way to practice a speech is to go over the material silently in the corner. • #5IC- The proper way to practice a speech is to say it aloud, look at another person or yourself in a mirror, and practice your movements.

14. Empathy • Know how it feels to be in the shoes of audience members. • Another name for empathy is common ground. • #24B- Empathy means knowing how it feels to feel that way. • The audience is more likely to listen to you if they can identify with you.

15. Newness • Apply some originality to your speech. • #6IC- Some methods you might use to add originality to a speech are clever anecdotes or personal stories, gestures, charts and graphs, and artwork.

16. Conviction • Conviction means believing in what you are saying. • #19T/F- Conviction has everything to do with confidence. • If you believe in what you say, you will be more confident, and the audience will be more likely to believe you.

17. Enthusiasm • Get fired up! • #25B- A good speaker needs to show enthusiasm intellectually and physically. • No one wants to listen to a monotone speaker who displays no energy and excitement.