1. Overcoming Speech Anxiety

2. In the upcoming slides, you will learn...
What stage fright is.
Controlled stage fright is helpful.
Uncontrolled stage fright can be harmful.
The value of thorough preparation.
Relaxation techniques before you speak.
The importance of the right attitude.
To concentrate on your topic and audience.
To handle specific symptoms.

3. Understanding Stage Fright
“The human brain is a wonderful thing. It starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.” - George Jessel
Most people experience stage fright.
If you polled the people in this classroom right now, 80 to 90% would report some form of anxiety about giving a speech.
Stage fright affects most people in physical ways…

4. Understanding Stage Fright (continued)
The fight or flight response causes:
sweaty palms
queasy stomach
dry mouth
excessive perspiration
increased heart rate
shortness of breath

5. Controlled Stage Fright
Make good use of anxiety when you are delivering a speech.
This tension causes your muscles to tighten, your heart and breathing rates to increase, and more adrenalin and oxygen to pump throughout your body.
Good public speakers utilize stage fright and make it work for them by learning to control it and channel it properly.
Famous speakers have reported that their most successful speeches have been those that they were most nervous about beforehand.

6. Prepare Thoroughly
One way to control stage fright is to prepare thoroughly for each presentation.
Study your topic.
Analyze your audience. What is in it for them?
Research and outline the main ideas of your speech.
Rehearse your presentation sufficiently.

7. Develop the Right Attitude
Train yourself to think positively:
Think “anticipation and excitement,” instead of “anxiety and tension.”
Understand this is your body’s way of preparing to meet a challenge.
Once the speech begins, these feelings will sharpen your thinking and give vitality and animation to your presentation.

8. Concentrate on Your Topic
Choose your topic carefully.
Be interested in your topic.
Share your knowledge with your audience.
Show enthusiasm to animate both you and your audience.
“Success demands singleness of purpose.” Vince Lombardi

9. Inject a Little Humor
Humor reduces tension between speaker and audience. A laugh from the audience builds a speaker’s confidence.
When using humor, observe these precautions:
Prepare humor thoroughly beforehand, making sure it will be understood and appreciated by this particular audience.
Use humor during the introduction, sprinkling lesser amounts throughout the rest of the speech.
Do not overuse humor.
Avoid offensive jokes.

10. Handling Specific Symptoms
Trembling hands and a rattling manuscript:
Use 3x5 note cards.
Stumbling over words, getting “tongue tied”:
Slow down your speaking rate until the problem disappears.
Excessive Perspiration:
Ignore it. Do not call attention to it by wiping your hands or forehead.

11. Handling Specific Symptoms Cont’d
Tense Muscles:
Use platform movement and gestures.
Feeling Inferior:
Dress for the speech in an outfit that makes you look your best. It must be appropriate for the audience and the occasion.
Dry Mouth:
Bring a bottle of water with you. Do not lick your lips in front of the audience.

12. What You Have Learned... What stage fright is.
Controlled stage fright is helpful.
Uncontrolled stage fright can be harmful.
The value of thorough preparation.
Relaxation techniques before you speak.
The importance of the right attitude.
To concentrate on your topic and audience.
To handle specific symptoms.

13. Overcoming Speech Anxiety
Understanding presentational anxiety and applying these techniques and suggestions will help you overcome stage fright.