This document provides strategies for building confidence when speaking in public. It discusses that public speaking anxiety is common and caused by uncertainties about one's role, abilities, ideas, the audience's reaction, and the setting. It recommends preparing early, choosing a familiar topic, practicing, and focusing on audience feedback rather than oneself. On the day of the speech, it advises arriving early, deep breathing, focusing on other speakers, expecting some anxiety but using it productively, and reinforcing confidence after the speech.

1. 2
Building Your
Confidence

2. Building Your Confidence
 Why are people
scared to speak in
public?
 What scares you
the most about
speaking in public?

3. Speech Anxiety
 The fear of speaking in front of an
audience

4. What Causes Speech Anxiety?
 Temperament
 Response to uncertainty
• Uncertainty reduction theory

5. The Uncertainties of Public Speaking
Your role as a speaker Technology
What should I do? Will the technology work?
Your speaking ability Evaluation
What am I able to do? What impression will I make?
Your ideas
How well do I know my topic?
The audience’s response
How will others react?
The setting
How familiar/unfamiliar is the space?

6. Strategies for Building Your
Confidence
 Visualization
 Relabeling
 Relaxation
• Diaphragmatic breathing
• Meditation breathing
• Tension-release breathing

7. Visualization, Relabeling, & Relaxation

8. Building Your Confidence Before the
Day of Your Speech
 Start planning and preparing your speech
early
 Choose a topic you care about
 Become an expert on your topic
 Research your audience
 Practice your speech
 Know your introduction and conclusion
well

9. Building Your Confidence on
the Day of Your Speech
 Before presenting your speech
• Keep all your notes and materials organized
• Arrive early
• Take calming breaths
• Warm up your voice
• Make sure all technical aspects of your
speech are ready to go
• Concentrate on the other speakers

10. Building Your Confidence on
the Day of Your Speech Cont.
 During your speech
• Display a confident attitude
• Expect to experience some anxiety
• Turn your anxiety into productive energy
• Avoid overanalyzing your anxiety
• Never comment on your speech anxiety
• Focus on your audience, not yourself
• Pay attention to audience feedback
• Make no apologies or excuses

11. Building Your Confidence on
the Day of Your Speech Cont.
 After you’ve presented your speech
• Listen carefully to audience members’
questions
• Recognize that speech anxiety can occur
even after you finish your speech
• Reinforce your confidence
• Identify useful strategies for managing speech
anxiety
• Develop a plan for managing anxiety to use in
future speaking situations

12. Building Your Confidence Table

13. Relevant Websites
 What causes some to panic?
 Toastmasters International