Chapter 2:
Building Confidence
Understanding Communication Apprehension
• Confidence is the feeling you have when you believe that you are
capable of handling a situation successfully.
• Communication apprehension means that we are afraid to speak in
public situations.
• A fear is a biological process by which animals, including humans,
secure the necessary energy to do an activity even if it may cause
physical or psychological injury.
• #20B – When fear reaches a certain level, it becomes what is known
as a phobia or a persistent irrational fear.
• Topophobia is sometimes called performance anxiety or stage fright
and is when someone is afraid of getting in front of others.
• Phonophobia is the overall fear of speaking aloud.
Understanding Communication Apprehension
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The “Top 10 Fears” of Americans are
10. Dogs
9. Loneliness
8. Flying
7. Death
6. Sickness
5. Deep water
4. Financial problems
3. Insects and bugs
2. Heights
1. PUBLIC SPEAKING
Understanding Communication Apprehension
• #1T/F- Stage fright is most evident right before we speak and during
the first thirty seconds or so after we have actually opened or mouths.
• #2T/F- When we are suffering from stage fright, our heart rates may
increase to twice the normal level.
• #3T/F- Stage fright is NOT a figment of our imagination, and it can be
a serious speaking problem.
• #4T/F- Studies show that many fear the thought of giving a speech
more than they do the thought of dying.
• #5T/F- Research shows that most people’s stage fears do not occur
because they suffer from real speaking problems.
• Speakers with stage fright can also suffer from dizziness, a flushed
face, excessive perspiration, shortness of breath, and the urge to go to
the restroom.
Establishing an Accurate Perception
• #21B- Many high school students are often afraid to speak because
they fear being unfairly stereotyped.
• Perception refers to how you see things.
• #1IC- The two ways that you can cure a negative image of yourself is
to recognize your own worth and don’t be afraid to be human.
• #6T/F- Your audience will forgive a speaking error or problem
because they know that no one’s perfect.
• #7T/F- You should never think of a speech as a performance. You’re
just sharing information.
• #8T/F- Many people make giving a speech more difficult than it
really is.
Establishing an Accurate Perception
• #9T/F- Honest intrapersonal communication is one cure for stage
fright.
• #10T/F- Many people equate making one mistake with total failure.
• #11T/F- An error can lead to personal discovery. In other words, you
can learn from your mistake.
• #12T/F- Confident people are not born with confidence. Confident
people learn to be confident and gain self-esteem by experience.
• What to do if you make a mistake –smile, remember you’re human,
take a deep breath, and correct it the next time.
• #7IC- An accurate perception of yourself contributes to your speaking
ability because it helps calm your fears, you can learn from your
mistakes, and you can see yourself as a success.
Examining the Planks of Confidence
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#2IC- The “planks” of confidence are
Content
Organization
Notes
Friendliness
Impression
Dedication
Empathy
Newness
Conviction
Enthusiasm
Content
• Content means having something worthwhile to say.
• Research helps build solid content.
• #3IC- Several ways to build content is to go to the library, read,
interview an expert, and watch or read the news.
Organization
• Organization means having an outline for both you and the audience
to follow.
• #13T/F- A good speaker does not always rely on “the spontaneity of
the moment.” A good speaker always plans ahead.
• Even the best speakers need a main idea, supporting information, and
evidence to make their speech believable.
Notes
• #22B- A notecard can be a comforting “security net” in case you fear
losing your place in a speech.
• #23B- The two greatest problems regarding notes for a speech are too
many words on a card and too many cards.
• #14T/F- If you are suffering from stage fright, it is NOT all right to
read from your notes.
Friendliness
• Be friendly. The audience will respond in kind.
• #15T/F- Being likable is the “magic bullet” to speaking. This is
because if people like you, they are more likely to listen to you.
• Don’t be afraid to smile.
Impression
• Getting off to a good start is essential to building good confidence.
• #4IC- The two ways to convey a good first impression are have a
positive attitude and dress and groom properly.
• #16T/F- Fifty-five percent of what others think of you is determined
before you ever open your mouth.
• #17T/F- Dress and grooming have everything to do with the
impression you make on others.
Dedication
• Practice, practice, practice.
• #18T/F- A bad way to practice a speech is to go over the material
silently in the corner.
• #5IC- The proper way to practice a speech is to say it aloud, look at
another person or yourself in a mirror, and practice your movements.
Empathy
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Know how it feels to be in the shoes of audience members.
Another name for empathy is common ground.
#24B- Empathy means knowing how it feels to feel that way.
The audience is more likely to listen to you if they can identify with
you.
Newness
• Apply some originality to your speech.
• #6IC- Some methods you might use to add originality to a speech are
clever anecdotes or personal stories, gestures, charts and graphs, and
artwork.
Conviction
• Conviction means believing in what you are saying.
• #19T/F- Conviction has everything to do with confidence.
• If you believe in what you say, you will be more confident, and the
audience will be more likely to believe you.
Enthusiasm
• Get fired up!
• #25B- A good speaker needs to show enthusiasm intellectually and
physically.
• No one wants to listen to a monotone speaker who displays no energy
and excitement.