Todd Smith

Mrs. Cramer
Comp I Period 6
11 Jan. 2018
Artwork by Speaking

Scritch-scratch! Scritch-Scratch! Scritch-Scratch! Clickety-clack! Clickety-Clack!

Clickety-Clack! These are the vigorous sounds of frantic note-taking and stressed fingers

repeatedly slamming the keyboard in the hope of beating the time deadline for a meeting that

starts at 2:00 pm. Stress and anxiety begin to build up, but for what? Public speaking. For many

people, public speaking is their worst fear. According to the communications consultant, Gary

Cosnett, public speaking is the number-one fear among Americans. In perspective, death is only

the sixth most common fear (Cosnett). With the constant fear of public speaking looming in

Americans' minds, experts have discovered and provided different methods, tips, and explained

personal experiences to reduce this primary phobia.

To start, public speaking is a phobia itself. For us, we need to find a personal way to

diminish the anxiety and concern it causes inside us. There are bountiful methods, and

techniques experts offer to relieve this stress. Within “A Survival Guide to Public Speaking,”

Gary Cosnett explains his four recommendations: set realistic goals, give yourself credit, control

your self-critical inner voice, and visualize a successful presentation. Cosnett explains that

setting realistic goals is a small step system. In a large public speaking environment, the level of

difficulty to grasp the attention of the entire audience is strenuous. Setting small mile markers

such as, obtaining the concentration of different groups of people during the presentation are

helpful. He included an example of his sociology class. When he started teaching, the students'

attitude was, "go ahead and teach me sociology; I dare you." From the beginning, Cosnett

realized that he could not grasp the full attention of the audience in every class. He thought to
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himself, "I can engage half of this group, or I can engage 65 percent of this group (Cosnett)." He

realized he should not judge himself on a large scale, but feel satisfied for reaching his small goal

of teaching the groups adversely and gaining the attention of more and more people.

Furthermore, Cosnett recommends giving yourself credit. Think about it; you were personally

chosen to present in front of people. The person who has asked you to speak obviously thinks it's

going to be of value to the audience (Cosnett). Also, control your self-critical inner voice. What

does this mean? We are our biggest critics. In 'spotlight' times we feel the pressure. This pressure

naturally triggers phrases like "I'm not prepared" or "I'll bomb." Many people give up, but

Cosnett says to challenge yourself. We internalize these messages, programming to view

ourselves critically. It’s a way of protecting ourselves from making mistakes (Cosnett). Our

world today is the result of someone taking a risk, either challenging themselves or someone

around them. The main point is to realize the world is not ending if a mistake were to occur.

Finally, visualize a successful presentation. Visualize a comfortable setting in front of the

audience. The audience is pleased you are here. Create a positive experience in a mental image.

In addition, to Gary's recommendations are Nathalie Donnet's. Nathalie Donnet explains

that people will always have nerves when they are publically speaking. Nervousness acts as a

hypo and makes public speakers give superb performances (Cosnett). The art of controlling the

nerves creates an excellent performance. To manage nerves, use various breathing techniques,

one being, inhale then count aloud to five while exhaling. Repeat this and increase the number

counted to by five every time until you suppress the heavy breathing. Donnet's second

recommendation is to prepare and rehearse. Prepare for perfection. Thirdly, analyze the

audience. Speak the language of the audience and incorporate their interests while speaking. By
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integrating their interests into talking, the audience will become more comfortable to engage and

more interactive.

Extending on Donnet's recommendation was Steve Whiteford. Steve recommends

involving your audience. Make a personal connection with the audience to engage them. Involve

all of their learning capacities - visual, auditory, emotional, and physical (Cosnett). By doing

this, the audience will be more attentive. Furthermore, master the craft. Master means to be

consistent in every aspect. Prepare the existing knowledge within, yet seek ways to stretch the

brain’s capabilities. Learn new things about your topic. Expanding your understanding allows for

more sources of information to be at your disposal during the speech. These various techniques

will help in different ways. Find one and implement a method into your public speaking.

Likewise, tips from experts are another way to minimize stress about public speaking.

Dress appropriately for the speech. The way one dresses could make or break the connection to

the audience. Unfortunately, people judge books by their covers. Make an impactful first

impression. Stand tall and take deep breaths, vary your tone of voice and speed of delivery, use

hands gestures when appropriate, get rid of um and uh (Gard). These tips are just some of the

numerous amounts of little adjustments that can be made to make public speaking less of a fear.

Public speaking will always be fear; it is what is done to contain it to make yourself fearless.

Finally, hearing other people's personal experiences will help you reduce the fear of

public speaking. Within “Do You Need To Psych Yourself Up to Give a Speech?” Tim Conway

includes an example of public speaking from the viewpoint of Karen Jenks. Karen is a junior at

Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Karen was new to this school. Even

worse, she had to present the first week of her ninth-grade year. Although she had played her

violin before audiences for several years, she was nervous. She claims, 'It's easier to perform
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with an instrument. I could hide behind the violin and tell myself the audience wasn't so ready to

criticize me.' Before she began her speech, Karen took two deep breaths and concentrated on her

note cards. These techniques reduced her stress level when thirty strangers were staring directly

at her. Her next speech was more relaxed because of the relations that have grown between

Karen and her peers. Karen believes that the public speaking is an important skill to learn. The

sooner that you become comfortable with public speaking, the better (Gard). Learning about the

personal experience of others can be vital to one and their ability to limit stress and fears.

In conclusion, public speaking is a constant fear that is looming in Americans' minds.

Experts have discovered and provided different methods, tips, and explained personal

experiences to reduce this primary phobia in our lives. Public speaking will always be a need for

our lives. In our lives, we will encounter social interaction. Understanding public speaking is

essential to life as an American. Remaining calm under pressure will not only ease the fear of

public speaking but will also convey a sense of authority and knowledge to the audience that

may open different opportunities in life. Public speaking is an artwork. The speaker must find the

perfect brush and perfect stroke to create a masterpiece.

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Works Cited

Cosnett, Gary, et al. "A survival guide to public speaking." Training & Development Journal,

Sept. 1990, p. 15+. Educators Reference

Complete, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=PROF&sw=w&u=pl1949&v=2.1&id=GALE%7

CA9413711&it=r&asid=d8412f1d96dd52d48d186a9fe2e199f8. Accessed 7 Nov. 2017.

Gard, Carolyn J. "Do You Need to Psych Yourself Up to Give a Speech?" Current Health 2, a

Weekly Reader publication, Sept. 1999, p. 18. Opposing Viewpoints in

Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A55671747/OVIC?u=pl1949&xid=7daaa02d.

Accessed 7 Nov. 2017.