Understanding
Communication Apprehension
Note-taking day!
You need notebook paper and something to write with.
Copy the following definitions:
Communication Apprehension ~ Fear of public speaking
Stage Fright ~ Extreme fear of audiences
Perception ~ How a person sees things
Confidence ~ Feeling when you believe that you can handle a
situation successfully
Communication Apprehension
Facts:
80-90% of Americans admit to feeling
extremely uncomfortable about any form of
public speaking
People fear Speaking Publicly more than they
do dying
Fear is normal
When does
Communication Apprehension occur?
Interviewing for a job
Meeting a hot guy/girl for the first time
Answering a question in Mr. Harris’ class
Free throw line in a play-off game
At bat
On a date
Driving test
What physically happens to you?
Perception of Your Audience
“I know they see my hands shaking.”
“Everyone is staring at the beads of sweat
running down my forehead.”
“The Audience is WANTING me to mess
up!”
Do not see it as life or death!
They will forgive any mistake your make if you show you are
genuinely interested in them and what you are trying to share.
Perception of Your Speech
Share your thoughts with your audience
It is NOT a performance
Do not put on a show
Do not rely on silly humor
Perception of Yourself
You are Beautiful & Smart
Recognize your own individual worth
Like who you are
Improve what you have instead of wish for
what you don’t have
See yourself as being an individual and
unique, rather than different and inadequate
C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.C.E.!
Content
Organization
Notes
Friendliness
Impression
Dedication
Empathy
Newness
Conviction
Enthusiasm
Examining “Confidence”
Content ~ have something worthwhile to say
Organization ~ have an easy outline to
follow
Notes ~ jot down your ideas in a brief,
outlined form
Friendliness ~ be congenial
Impression ~ Getting off to a good start/ look
good
Examining “Confidence”
Dedication ~ practice, practice, practice
Empathy ~ know how it feels to feel that
way/common ground
Newness ~ apply some originality
Conviction ~ believe in what you say
Enthusiasm ~ have energy
Homework!
Due Thursday!
Select someone you think exudes a lot of
confidence.
On the handout, explain how they use each
‘plank of confidence’ to their advantage.
What if I make a mistake?
You’ve failed many times, although you may not remember.
You fell down the first time you tried to walk.
You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn’t you?
Did you hit the ball the first time you swung at bat?
Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.
R. H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.
English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564
books.
Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs.
Don’t worry about failure.
Worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.
A message as published in the
Wall Street Journal by United
Technologies Corporation,
Hartford, Connecticut 06101
What if I make a mistake?
Don’t Panic
Relax & Breathe
Laugh at your mistakes
Remind yourself, You are only human
