Understand Your nervousness 2.1 17
Because an understanding of why you feel apprehensive is a good starting point
on the journey to speaking with greater confidence,^7 we will first help you to
understand why you become nervous. Then we will offer specific strategies
to help you speak with greater comfort and less anxiety.
Understand Your Nervousness
2.1 Explain the reasons for and processes involved in nervousness about
public speaking.
A study by two communication researchers found that among the causes of
anxiety about public speaking were fear of humiliation, concern about not
being prepared, worry about one’s looks, pressure to perform, personal in-
security, concern that the audience wouldn’t be interested in the speaker or
the speech, lack of experience, fear of making mistakes, and an overall fear of
failure.^8 Another study found that men are likely to experience more anxiety
than women are when speaking to people from a culture different from their
own.^9 There is also evidence that being a perfectionist may be linked to in-
creased apprehension when speaking to others.^10 As you read the list, you
probably found a reason that resonated with you. Most people feel some ner-
vousness when they speak before others. As we’ve said, you’re not alone if you
are apprehensive about giving a speech.^11 Understanding why you and many
others may experience apprehension can give you insights into how to better
address your anxiety.^12
Your Biology Affects Your Psychology
What makes you feel nervous about speaking in public? Why do your hands
sometimes shake, your knees quiver, your stomach flutter, and your voice seem
to go up an octave? What is happening to you?^13 Increasingly, researchers are
concluding that communication apprehension may have a genetic or biological
basis. Some people may inherit a tendency to feel anxious about speaking in
public.^14 Some researchers point out that public-speaking apprehension can in-
volve both a trait (a characteristic or general tendency that you may have) and
a state (anxiety triggered by the specific incidence of giving a speech to an audi-
ence).^15 You might wonder, “So if I have a biological tendency toward states of
nervousness, is there anything I can do to help manage my fear?” The answer
is yes. You many not be able to change your genetics, but you can enhance your
public-speaking skills and learn strategies to help you feel calmer when speak-
ing in public.^16 We discuss many of these strategies in the rest of this chapter.
In the meantime, the How To box shows that what you’ve learned in just these
first few pages can already help you. In addition, a better understanding of the
biological reasons you feel apprehensive is a good starting point on the journey
to speaking with greater confidence and serenity.^17
2.1