Lecture on Managing Communication Anxiety

Introduction

• Speaker's Personal Story
  • At 14, experienced anxiety during a school speech contest.
  • Anxiety led to a memorable incident (ripped pants during a karate introduction).
  • Realized anxiety's impact on communication and dedicated life to helping others manage it.

The Prevalence of Communication Anxiety

• General Statistics
  • 85% of people feel anxious in high-stakes speaking situations.
  • Remaining 15% might feel nervous in specific situations.
• Importance of Managing Anxiety
  • Helps in achieving communication goals.
  • Affects audience perception ("second-hand anxiety").

Understanding the Source of Anxiety

• Evolutionary Basis
  • Concern about relative status and social standing.
  • Status historically critical for resource access and survival.
• Approach to Management
  • Address both symptoms (physiological and cognitive) and sources (triggers).

Managing Physiological Symptoms

• Techniques to Calm the Body
  • Deep breathing (similar to yoga or Tai Chi methods).
  • Use broad gestures to channel adrenaline.
  • Hold something cold to reduce perspiration and blushing.

Managing Cognitive Symptoms

• Approach Anxiety with Acceptance
  • Recognize and accept nervousness as natural.
  • Use self-talk to acknowledge the importance of the situation.
  • Breathing and movement can help regain control.

Addressing Sources of Anxiety

• Fear of Forgetting
  • Use a structured plan (e.g., "What, So What, Now What").
  • Structures help with memory and audience understanding.
• Audience Evaluation
  • Redirect attention to manage perceived judgment.
  • Use media or interaction to shift focus.

Reframing Communication

• From Performance to Conversation
  • No "right" way to communicate, focus on better approaches.
  • Use audience-centric language and questions.
  • Treat communication as a dialog.

Overcoming Anxiety: A Case Study

• Irma's Story
  • Avoided communication due to a negative high school experience.
  • Motivated by personal reasons (granddaughter's wedding).
  • Successfully managed anxiety through practice and encouragement.

Conclusion

• Encouragement for Audience
  • With patience and self-kindness, anxiety can be managed.
  • Communication is vital for sharing stories and ideas.
  • Aim to "speak up without freaking out."