Overcoming Speech Anxiety

There is no question that after giving about four speeches, I have become a much better overall public speaker. In the beginning of the semester, I would tend to get nervous during some of my speeches and consequently the delivery of my speech would be greatly affected. If I had made a mistake, my level of nervousness would drastically increase and I wouldn’t know how to correct it. Although today I have improved on these aspects. Normally in order to control my nerves I try to think as positively as possible. This is critical because when I start to think even a little bit negatively then I severely hurt my chances of giving a good speech. Instead today, my main priority is to stay very confident and tell myself that I’m going to perform fine.

Public speaking used to be a daunting task that I would try to avoid as often as possible, often I would be the last to present a project and would refrain myself from having to read outloud. When I would speak my head would fill with thoughts of how other were perceiving me and how easy it would be to mess up. With this nervous mentality my speaking was stuttered and confusing.

One of my more vivid experiences of public speaking was when I was taking a class at a community college. While taking this class I would often have to give speeches and demonstrations in front of the class. As I was waiting for my turn to give my very first speech, I was very certain that I would have no problems at all, it would a piece of cake, or so I thought. All of a sudden, I hear my name being called as it was my turn to deliver a knockout performance, but as I stood in front of that small class of people I just blanked out. An overwhelming amount of anxiety came over of me. I could feel my heart beginning to race and my hands starting to sweat. I could not for the life of me remember what I was going supposed say. In addition, the

It is argued by some commentators that having nerves can improve your performance (Lancaster and Janes, 1994). Feelings of nervousness helped me to focus on my presentation however things did not go the way I planned them. I can only

Overall no matter how many times I do a rehearsal or practice I always get stage fright. Stage fright is my weakest area I have done rehearsals and private or with one or two people but when it comes to the bigger picture I always freeze. I need to learn to speak with confidence and try to get the audience involved instead of rushing the presentation or speaking very softly so no one hears me I need to be able to let the audience know that I am confident and the information that I am sharing is worth their time to listen and learn

Some instances of these fear are: missing important points, inability to answer the questions, lack of communication and being rejected by the group based on the background. In order to overcome these fears presenter needs to speak with confidence which can be gained through practicing and rehearsing before the presentation as the audience can easily spot the signs of a presenter without confidence. In addition, presenter needs to be in control of his mind by rehearsing before the presentation. Maintaining a strong eye contact is also very important. This can be achieved by not looking at someone for too long but also not shifting eye contact or scanning the audience very quickly. Wearing clean and comfortable clothes can contribute to self-confidence and projecting a good image. A presenter must be careful not to reveal their shortcomings by addressing their weaknesses and stating their nervousness about speaking in

Public speaking is often described as the most common fear in the world. It is also something that many people are required to do. It may be to give a toast at a wedding, to present a seminar at work, to make an argument to a local council, to receive an award or to be interviewed by a board of directors for a job. Public speaking is something few people can avoid and yet it continues to be a major fear. To understand this fear and how it can be managed and prevented, the issue will now be looked at in more detail. This will begin with a definition of public speaking anxiety and a discussion of the

"I began to play a song, when all of a sudden I just stopped," "Mortified, I just started laughing, and realized that I had stage fright. It wasn't a lot of people, but they were great. They cheered me on, saying, 'Keep going, keep going!' Even though I was embarrassed, their support and kindness gave me the courage to plow on and finish the song."Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, whether actually or potentially (for example, when performing before a camera).

Being on stage is an unparalleled feeling. The bright lights and the impatient crowd make it an experience that is both overwhelming and thrilling. The most stressful part of performing is the waiting. The backstage of a theater is like an alternate reality, with every performer anticipating their moment, rehearsing their songs quietly to themselves. The energy is palpable, a mix of nervousness and excitement so intertwined it is impossible to distinguish the two. I had rehearsed my song for hours on end, but I still found myself whispering the lyrics to myself just in case. When it comes to performing, there is a point where you have to decide to trust yourself and your talents, otherwise you may never make it on stage.

Throughout life we express ourselves through words. The way we present ourselves through speech says a lot about our character. The way one speaks to others can jeopardize the amount of respect and trust others have for them. From the way one pronounces a word to their posture can affect the way an audience interprets what is being said. Personally, I am not confident with my speaking skills at this point. I would like my audience to fully comprehend the concepts or facts that I would present to them. In order to do so I must improve my speaking skills I believe that a problem most people, including myself, have when giving speeches is facing an audience. Just looking out to an audience of a mere ten

When the presentation ended, I seemed more relieved than I thought I would be (in the same way I was more nervous). I suppose there's more truth than I imagined to my third point. Taking on different characters is the easiest form of protection. Being in speech and musicals, I assumed standing up front wouldn't be as nerve-wracking as it is described to be. Friends even told me, "This is probably easy for you, but for me…" Therefore, when I was overrun with nerves, it surprised me. Talking about myself is harder than showing the life of someone

Only a select few people take pleasure in giving presentations or public speaking. I am not one of those people. Public speaking has always been a problem for me. G.A.D. or general anxiety disorder, has been a substantial factor in my life and being graded or judged on how well you speak in front of people, doesn’t exactly help. Whether it is five people or over a thousand, when pressure is put on you-you have to react. For example, when your grade for the quarter depends on how well you give a presentation, or when you have a competition or a big game. Consequently, you could become exceedingly anxious, and begin to doubt yourself, and that can lead to horrible situations.

I used the search engine Google with the search term “public speaking fear” and it brought up a great deal of interesting websites pertaining to public speaking. The first one I decided to peruse was 5 Tips to Reduce the Fear of Public Speaking on Psychology Today’s website. I learned that public speaking is the number one fear in America, while the fear of death is second in line. This means that we’re more afraid of speaking in public than we are of dying. I also learned five tips on how to reduce public speaking nervousness.

While in the front stage the performer is aware that they are acting in front of people and acts appropriately to the given situation. But

In public speaking of any form to a diverse group of individuals, my main consideration as the speaker is my concentration on the audience that I am speaking to. In starting an effective presentation,