Communication Apprehension
Lecture #1
Communication Apprehension
(CA)
 An individual level of fear or anxiety associated with
either real or anticipated communication with another
person or persons.
 Stage fright
Is this how you feel?
Supposed/Theoretical Causes
① Excessive Activation
② Inappropriate Cognitive Processing
③ Inadequate Communication Skills
Excessive Activation
 Getting overly “psyched up”
 Moist palms, faster heartbeat, butterflies in stomach,
dry mouth, shaking, voice quivers
 Completely Normal
 15-20% have more severe symptoms (nausea, loss of
memory, shortness of breath)
Inappropriate Cognitive
Processing
 Feeling terrified rather than excited
 Perception versus reality
 Societally nurtured fear
 Ted Talk: Required Viewing
 http://blog.ted.com/required-watching-for-any-tedspeaker-the-science-of-stage-fright/
Inadequate
Communication Skills
 Lack of Knowledge
 Lack of Experience
 Lack of Opportunity
Treatment Approaches
① Excessive Activation
Systematic Desensitization
② Inappropriate Cognitive Processing
Cognitive Restructuring
③ Inadequate Communication Skills
Skills Training
Systematic Desensitization
 Meant to reduce the body’s physiological reaction
 Two steps
 Deep relaxation
 Focused muscle response
 Success rate of 90%
Cognitive Restructuring
 Negativity is irrational
 Develop new and positive ideas
 Identify negative statements
 Replace with revisions
 Embrace your mantra
 Catch yourself cheating and correct
TED TALK on Mindfulness with Andy P.
Skills Training
 Works best when voluntary
 Identify specific target areas for improvement
 Seven Steps
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Name particular problem area(s)
Small skills make up larger skills
Realistic goals
Watch a model
Discuss and understand the need
Practice in safe environment with help
Apply to real experience
“You may not be able to get
rid of the butterflies, but at
least you can get them flying
in formation”
AKA: Channel that Energy
into an enthusiastic speech
KEEP IN MIND:
Even experienced, effective speakers and
performers experience some
communication apprehension. What differs
is the mental label that we put on the
experience. Effective speakers have learned
to channel their body’s reactions, using the
energy released by these physiological
reactions to create animation and stage
presence.
Broadway or Bust
http://video.pbs.org/video/2272109001/
How to Overcome Stage
Fright - 6 Easy Steps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFkPMRSHDJY
Strategies
 Select a topic you know and enjoy
 Start preparing early
 Take care of yourself
 Volunteer to go first
 Use one of the following techniques…
5 mins. to go and in private
 Rag doll
 Shoulders on parade
 Shake it out
 Horse Laugh
 Facial Exercises
Rag Doll
Shoulders on Parade
Shake it out
Big Yawn
Facial Exercises
 Extreme vowels
 Face Scrunchies
 Eyebrows
AE I O UY
1 min. to go and in public
 Tense all muscles (not face) and release
 Breathe deeply and exhale full and slow
 Be aware of your surroundings
 Think of happy place
 Visualize success
Deep Breathing
 30 seconds = roughly 6 sets of Calm Breathing
 1) breath in
 2) HOLD
2,3,4,5
2,3,4
 3) breath our 2,3,4,5
 4) HOLD
 5) REPEAT
2,3,4
Most importantly… the 5 Ps
TED TALK by Amy Cuddy on helpful body
language habits in preparing to do things
that normally make us nervous