In chapter 21, it talks about oral presentations. Everything in there is pretty straightforward but what really caught my eye were the guidelines on pg 598. They give tips on how to "release nervous energy" and I don't agree with most of them.
First of all, I'm not shy or afraid to talk in front of an audience but I'm not good at talking in front of a group while I'm being judged on how well I'm talking. For example, when I took Intro to Communications, the generic comm class everyone needs for their degree, we had to do speeches. The speeches were strictly timed, had to fit into a certain structure, had to have media, have so many index cards with key words only, and probably some other criteria. More time is spent setting the speech up then actually looking into the topic. I know that is the point but that is what makes it difficult for me to talk to an audience. I'm not longer thinking about what I have to say but how I'm saying it and how I'm standing and how I'm using eye contact....etc. I am more comfortable in front of an audience when my focus only on what I have to say.
Back to my original statement, I do not agree with the guidelines the book has.
"Walking around," that's like pacing, I'm going to walk and all I will be thinking about is having to get up in front of people shortly. That does not sound helpful.
"Go off by yourself for a few minutes," again, now I just have time to think about how fumbling my words will be embarrassing or something like that.
"Talk with someone for a few minutes," this one is good, distraction is helpful.
"Take several deep breaths, exhaling slowly," this is helpful as well but what am I doing while taking my slow breaths? Am I about to start my presentation or is it a couple minutes before and I'm off by myself ruminating about the speech? It depends.
I do not think these tips work for me personally. I would change walking around to lightly exercising the day or morning before, just enough to tire me out but not enough that I would be sore. I think this would prevent being jittery or fidgety while I'm talking. I would avoid drinking coffee because then I would be shaking non-stop due to the fact I had too much caffeine and that now I'm worried about shaking noticeably in front of people. Trying to stop shaking would make me shake more, so caffeine is out.
As for our presentations, I don't think being nervous will be anything I will be thinking about. It is more casual and more about the information then how I structured my speech.
Nicole
Nicole good work here pointing out hings you disagree with from the reading and supporting why you disagree. You also gave alternative examples. This completed your argument.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Nicole and the study in the book, Public speaking is something we cannot avoid in our life. The situation will arise when we are called upon to stand up and speak our minds out. When that situation comes we need to be ready to deliver. We don’t realize it, but we face with that situation more often than we think. When we are going for a promotion for a job or going for a job interview the skills we learn in public speaking surely helps us perform in those situations. But we can’t deny the fact that while lectures in public speaking like the one we just did for the class can be very helpful for college students. Public speaking still remains one of the most feared activities in a person's lifetime. Anxiety and stress will usually attack once you get off your seat and start to speak. Sadly, this fear is the cause of lost promotions, low self esteem, miss-communications and similar situations. But why do some people excel on it? They make it look so easy...Perhaps it is true; through practice one can improve his public speaking skills.
ReplyDeleteI actually heard somewhere that public speaking is more feared then death. Crazy huh?!
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