No Freaking Speaking: 3 Techniques for Managing Speaking Anxiety

Summary

This script addresses the common fear of public speaking, with 85% of people reportedly feeling nervous. It suggests that anxiety can be managed rather than overcome, as it serves a purpose in focusing our energy. The speaker introduces techniques such as greeting anxiety, reframing the speaking situation as a conversation, and becoming present-oriented to reduce nervousness. These strategies are supported by academic research and aim to make the audience comfortable, which is essential for effective communication.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Most people are nervous about public speaking, with 85% admitting to it and the remaining 15% likely understating their anxiety.
• 🔄 Anxiety is a universal fear, often ranked among the top fears alongside more extreme scenarios like terrorist attacks or identity theft.
• 👍 Anxiety can be beneficial, providing energy and focus, but it's important to learn to manage it rather than trying to eliminate it completely.
• 🤗 Audiences can feel uncomfortable when watching a nervous speaker, which can create an awkward atmosphere and hinder message delivery.
• 📢 As a communicator, the goal should be to make the audience feel comfortable, which is essential for them to effectively receive the message.
• 🧘 Mindful attention can help manage anxiety by acknowledging it as a normal response to doing something of consequence, thus preventing it from escalating.
• 🔄 Reframing the speaking situation from a performance to a conversation can reduce anxiety and make the interaction feel more natural and less pressured.
• ❓ Using questions in presentations can create a more dialogic and engaging experience, making the audience feel more involved in the conversation.
• 💬 Adopting conversational language and avoiding formal, distancing language can help in making the presentation feel more like a discussion rather than a lecture.
• ⏱ Being present-oriented, rather than worrying about future consequences, can reduce nervousness by focusing on the current moment and the task at hand.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Techniques such as physical activity, listening to music, or saying tongue twisters can help bring oneself into the present moment and warm up the voice.

Q & A

What percentage of people feel nervous when speaking in public according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, 85% of people feel nervous when speaking in public.

What is the speaker's view on the fear of public speaking compared to other fears?

The speaker believes that fear of public speaking is a ubiquitous fear and is among the top fears that people have, even comparing it to being caught in a surprise terrorist attack or having one's identity stolen.

Why does the speaker use the word 'manage' instead of 'overcome' when talking about anxiety?

The speaker uses the word 'manage' because they believe that anxiety is not something to be completely overcome, but rather something that can be helpful by providing energy and focus, and it indicates the importance of the task at hand.

How does the speaker describe the typical audience's reaction to a nervous speaker?

The speaker describes the audience's reaction as feeling uncomfortable and awkward when watching a nervous speaker, with some nodding and smiling or others disengaging.

What is the role of a communicator according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, the role of a communicator is to make the audience comfortable so they can receive the message, regardless of whether the message is harsh or pleasant.

What is the first technique the speaker suggests to manage anxiety when speaking?

The first technique suggested by the speaker is to greet the anxiety when the symptoms begin to appear, acknowledging it as normal and natural to prevent the anxiety from spiraling out of control.

What does the speaker mean by reframing the speaking situation?

Reframing the speaking situation means changing the perspective from performing to having a conversation, which can help reduce anxiety and make the interaction more natural.

How can questions be used to create a conversational mode during a presentation?

Questions can be used to involve the audience and create a two-way interaction. They can be rhetorical or polling, and they can be used to structure the presentation by listing questions to be answered instead of bullet points.

What is the purpose of using conversational language when speaking?

Using conversational language helps to reduce the distance between the speaker and the audience, making the presentation more inclusive and less formal, which can help manage anxiety.

What is the significance of being present-oriented when speaking to manage anxiety?

Being present-oriented helps to reduce worries about future consequences and allows the speaker to focus on the current moment, which can decrease nervousness.

Can you provide an example of how to become present-oriented as suggested by the speaker?

The speaker suggests several ways to become present-oriented, such as doing physical activity like push-ups, listening to music, counting backward, or saying tongue twisters to focus on the present moment.