BUILDING CONFIDENCE 24 Public speaking is no more difficult than breathing, using chopsticks, or tying a bow tie. The mysterious becomes simple . . . once you know how to do it. —Charles Osgood, news commentator and author Learning Objectives Chapter Outline A F fter completing this chapter, you will be able to do the following. • Discuss what confidence means and how it is a vital element in effective speaking. • Recognize the realities of stage fright and how you can appropriately deal with the problem. • Realize the value of perception as it applies to confidence in your speaking. • Implement the planks of confidence in your speaking. ollowing are the main sections in this chapter. 1 Understanding Stage Fright 2 Establishing an Accurate Perception 3 Examining the Planks of Confidence Speech Vocabulary Academic Vocabulary I E n this chapter, you will learn the meanings of the speech terms listed below. notes confidence friendliness stage fright impression fear dedication phobia performance anxiety empathy common ground perception newness self-esteem conviction content enthusiasm organization xpanding your academic vocabulary will help you become a more effective communicator. Listed below are some words appearing in this chapter that you should make part of your vocabulary. irrational eulogy synonymous innovation allegory assertion prioritizing mannequin CHAPTER 2 Building Confidence 25 It doesn’t matter what you do in life—your chances of succeeding are improved when you are confident in yourself and in your abilities. This is particularly important when it comes to oral communication. It’s tough to be confident as a speaker when you believe that you have little to offer. Having confidence in speaking is closely related to having confidence about anything that you do in life. It has been said that you’re confident when you feel that you are good at something. A construction contractor doesn’t worry about a difficult job because he knows that he has the correct equipment and the intellectual know-how to do the job well. A computer programmer faced with a heavy workload and a detailed technical assignment doesn’t quit because she knows that her training will prepare her to face any task. Military strategists often say that “forewarned is forearmed.” In other words, if you know what’s coming, then you can adequately prepare for the challenge. For our purposes, the challenge is effective speaking. With this message in mind, the purpose of this chapter is to warn you of some apparent obstacles that speakers face, and then to arm you with the necessary tools that it takes for a “confidence victory.” In Chapter 2 we will examine what the word confidence means, how fear is a real-world enemy, how perception plays a key role in speaking success, and why the “planks of confidence” are a necessary first line of defense against stage fright. Introduction Confidence is not a trait that you’re born with. It is, however, a trait that anyone can develop. The confidence that great athletes like quarterback Peyton Manning or tennis players Serena and Venus Williams depend on to help them perform their best is the same attribute that will help you to succeed. So, if you’re not born with confidence, then how do you get it? You begin by understanding exactly what it means to have confidence. What does confidence mean? Simply put, confidence is the feeling you have when you believe that you are capable of handling a situation successfully. This attitude is a result of ongoing preparation and practice. The more times that you try something, the more likely you are to improve and to gauge what it takes to be successful in a given situation. 26 UNIT 1 The Person You may be asking, “How does this apply to oral communication? To the job world? To my social life?” Let’s return to the example started in Chapter 1 stating that the construction of a house begins with the pouring of a solid foundation and that a solid value structure is the foundation that anchors the spoken word. Carpenters next build the shell of the house by bolting the outside framework to the foundation. This framework is essential. It provides stability. Similarly, confidence is the internal framework of effective oral communication. Anchored to a solid value system, it gives stability to the speaker and makes her or his message believable. Thus, confidence is the attitude of assurance that causes an audience to take a speaker seriously. But not everyone can speak with confidence, even if they understand its importance. Why? Stage fright is one reason. 1 Understanding Stage Fright S tage fright, also referred to as communication apprehension, means that a person is afraid to speak, usually in public situations. Surveys indicate that 80 to 90 percent of Americans admit feeling extremely uncomfortable about any form of public speaking. Before we examine the “fear of speaking,” however, let’s take a look at the nature of fear itself. What Is Fear? According to Dr. William Guys, professor of speech communication at Western Michigan University, fear is a “biological process by which animals, including humans, secure the necessary energy to do a job that really matters—one that might potentially result in physical and/or psychological injury.” Therefore, keep in mind that fear is normal! It’s designed to protect us from harm. Fear activates our emergency energy system so that we can cope with danger. We have two sources of energy in our bodies. The “regular” energy system is based on the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the sleep we get. All of this contributes to our ability to function on a basic level. However, when we’re confronted with danger, our “emergency” energy system kicks in. This source of energy is mainly in the form of adrenaline. Think about it. When you’re alone and you hear a mysterious noise in the house, your heart may immediately begin to beat faster. This is because your body is preparing to deal with the potential danger. Understanding the nature of fear can help you in any situation. For some, the fear may be in the form of test anxiety; for others, it might be standing on a free-throw line with all eyes on them; and for many of us, it’s the possibility of messing up a big job interview. Yet, in every situation, we have a choice of dealing with it—or running from it. Biologists call this the “fight or flight syndrome.” Keep in mind that to “fight” does not mean literally to punch out Have you ever felt fear while you were participating in a sporting event? an opponent, but rather to confront a problem situation head-on. Granted, there are times when “flight” is the smart thing to do. When the train is coming and you’re standing on the tracks, move! However, too many times, we think that an upcoming speech is as dangerous as an oncoming train. When our concern reaches this level, it becomes what is known as a phobia—or a persistent, irrational fear. When it comes to speaking, we need to remember that it is beneficial to confront our fears—and fight to make our ideas known. Who Gets Frightened in Front of an Audience? Studies show that many people fear the thought of giving a speech more than they do the thought of dying. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld put this in perspective when he stated, “What this means is that if we are at a funeral, we would rather be the person in the casket—rather than be the one CHAPTER 2 Building Confidence 27 who is supposed to deliver the eulogy!” Yes, the fear of speaking is universal and can affect anyone, regardless of background or professional training. Barbara Tannenbaum is a senior lecturer in the Theater, Speech, and Dance Department at Brown University, who also teaches the “art of public speaking” and is a popular communications consultant. She notes that some of her most timid, shy, and apprehensive clients include doctors, bankers, judges, business executives, and politicians. She adds that the one trait they all have in common is that they’re “frozen in terror” when it comes to speaking in front of others. So, if you’re “scared stiff” about speaking, you’re in good company. It doesn’t matter whether you are: • interviewing for a job, • meeting people for the first time, • answering a question in class, • speaking at a community function, • explaining a task to coworkers. If a receiver of your message is present, you may suffer varying degrees of stage fright. What Are the Symptoms? A popular radio and television commercial for a motel chain ended with a very down-home-style voice offering the memorable line, “We’ll leave the light on for ya.” Some people experience stage fright when they have to give a presentation in front of their classmates. 28 UNIT 1 The Person Did you know that the speaker was so nervous while taping the original commercial that he forgot some of the words and was left with some time to fill? The result was that he ad-libbed this now-famous ending. However, forgetting the words isn’t the only symptom that accompanies a fear of speaking. Have you ever experienced an upset stomach, a flushed face, dizziness, a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, excessive perspiration, or wobbly legs either before or during a speech? If so, you’re quite normal. These are common physical signs of communication apprehension, and they usually occur right before we speak and during the first 30 seconds or so after we have actually opened our mouths. But why do we get these symptoms? The first reason is that our bodies are being flooded with energy because they’re preparing for what they perceive to be an emergency situation. Another reason, though, is that most of us don’t like to be evaluated or judged. We dislike the thought of opening up to an audience or of having others examine us or our thoughts too closely. The truth of the matter is that often we don’t think our ideas are worth listening to, we doubt we can say our ideas well, or we fear the audience won’t like us while we are speaking. Because we simply don’t feel prepared to face all of these potential obstacles, we’re certain that the worst will happen! Even Those on Stage Get Stage Fright In an article titled “Stage Fright? Don’t Collapse—Confront It,” columnist Frank James gives a humorous account of his first major communication disaster. He notes that while a seventh grader in the Bronx, he tried to impress Janet Bing, a girl he had a crush on. When he finally mustered up the courage to talk to her face to face, his courage suddenly left him. So, he thought he would go to his second plan of action and impress her by athletically running down the stairs two at a time. He adds, “I tripped and wound up taking at least a dozen steps at once, Winston Churchill head first. My body escaped unhurt, but my ego didn’t.” His stage fright put him in very good company. When British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a young politician, he became so frightened while delivering a memorized speech to Parliament that he totally blanked. From that point on, Churchill always had a copy of his speech with him and refused to speak publicly without it. Entertainers, public officials, and media personalities can also experience performance anxiety, or an extreme fear of audiences. This is a type of stage fright. Singer Carly Simon had millions of people listen to her records and tapes during the 1970s and 1980s, but she virtually disappeared from the music scene because of her fear of performing in front of live audiences. In California, a 44-year-old San Diego municipal judge was placed on permanent disability because he couldn’t face speaking in front of his courtroom. Finally, one of the most popular TV weathermen in the country, Willard Scott, developed stage fright and hyperventilated in front of millions. Questions 1. 2. Sometimes in social situations we try too hard to be impressive. In the first paragraph, what were two ways that seventh grader Frank James tried too hard? What were the negative consequences? Communication apprehension can really be a problem when it involves our jobs. Winston Churchill found a way to solve his stage fright. He used detailed, accurate notes when he spoke. But what about the singer, the judge, and the weatherman? How did stage fright affect their careers? Analyze why it’s ironic that they would suffer this condition. CHAPTER 2 Building Confidence 29 make our “internal frameworks” solid enough to withstand the strong winds and powerful rains of stage fright? Let’s start by making sure that we have an accurate perception of our audience, of our speech, and of ourselves. MISTER BOFFO © Joe Martin. Dist. by Universal Press Syndicate. All rights reserved. Well, maybe it’s time that we step back and see things a little differently. The Greek philosopher Socrates said that before we can move the world, we first have to move ourselves. But where do we get the confidence to start moving? How can we 1 Recalling the Facts 1. Define the term stage fright. 2. As discussed in this section, what word means “the feeling you have when you believe that you’re capable of handling a situation successfully”? 3. As has been explained, what is the definition of the word fear? 4. Many people experience physical symptoms when they know that they are going to speak. What are the two reasons given that explain the reasons why these symptoms occur? Thinking Critically 1. Many people find that they lose much of their speaking fear as the speech progresses. Why do you think that this might happen? Write at least two reasons and offer your thinking for each. 2. Sometimes an individual is called a “people person.” This means that he or she is relaxed and friendly around others. How could this type of person be a benefit at the workplace or at a social activity? What 30 UNIT 1 The Person prevents some of us from becoming a “people person”? Discuss your responses with a partner or in a small group. Taking Charge 1. Take a class inventory (of at least ten other students) and find out what they consider the most outstanding traits of a confident person (intelligence, an outgoing personality, and so on). Why is being confident important in the business world? Can confidence ever be taken too far? Analyze how confidence can be a positive factor when used the right way, but a negative factor when used the wrong way. Be ready to discuss your answers with the class. 2. Regardless of your job, you will have to be confident in your abilities and in your oral communication skills. Talk to someone who is employed and ask him or her why exhibiting confidence is important in what he or she does—and how confidence is an important factor in the impact that he or she might have on others.
