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Almost all speakers, veterans as well as rookies, have some degree of anxiety as they anticipate a communication situation. Barbra Streisand and Carly Simon—and countless other professional entertainers and communicators— have described their struggles to control this communication apprehension. International students and students from marginalized cultural groups often have a great deal of it. As you give your first speech, you may experience it as well. In fact, there might be something wrong if you didn’t have feelings of anxiety. The absence of any nervousness could suggest that you do not care enough about the audience or your message. We once attended a banquet where an award was presented to the “Communicator of the Year.” Before sitting down to eat, this recipient confessed privately to us, “I dread having to make this speech!” We were not surprised when this person, who is now governor of Tennessee, made an effective presentation. There are many reasons why public speaking can be frightening. Speaking before large groups of people and being the center of attention are not every-day occurrences for most of us. Moreover, these are often important moments: Much may depend on how well we speak. This element of risk, combined with the feeling of strangeness, can explain why many people dread public speaking. They are afraid they will make mistakes “and look bad to other people.” We have had students plunge into depression because they didn’t say exactly what they planned and are certain that others were aware of the “mistake.” Apparently, they think listeners are clairvoyant!
The truth is, listeners simply don’t know what you’ve planned to say, and therefore have no way of knowing that you haven’t said something exactly as you planned it. Furthermore, what you say on the spur of the moment may be better than the exact wording you had planned. That’s why extemporaneous presentations are usually superior to memorized or read speeches. They are prompted by the moment, and by the interaction of speaker and listener. Finally, even if listeners are aware of a mistake, they really don’t care that much about it. You will probably brood about an error much longer than your listeners will remember it.
So keep communication apprehension in perspective. Above all, do not be anxious about your anxiety. Accept it as natural, and be assured that the general effect of the public speaking class is to reduce it.8 Even more significant, you can learn how to convert these feelings into positive energy. One of the biggest myths about public speaking classes is that they can or should rid you of any natural fears. Instead, you should learn how to harness the energy generated by anxiety so that your speaking is more dynamic. No anxiety often means a flat, dull presentation. Transformed anxiety can make your speech sparkle. The late Edward R. Murrow, a renowned radio and television commentator, once said: “The best speakers know enough to be scared. . . . The only difference between the pros and the novices is that the pros have trained the butterflies to fly in formation.”
How can you train your butterflies to fly for you? If you find yourself building to an uncontrollable state of nervousness before a speech, don’t stand around and discuss with your classmates how frightened you feel, especially with other speakers scheduled that day. You will only increase your own anxiety and make theirs worse as well. Instead, go off by yourself and practice relaxation exercises. While breathing deeply and slowly, concentrate on tensing and then relaxing your muscles, starting with your neck and working down to your feet. These relaxation techniques will help you control the physical symptoms of anxiety.’° While you are relaxed, identify any negative thoughts you may harbor about yourself as a speaker, such as “Everybody will think I’m stupid” or “Nobody wants to listen to me.” Replace them with positive messages that focus on your ideas and your audience, such as “These ideas are important and useful” or “Listeners will really enjoy this story.” This approach to controlling communication anxiety by deliberately replacing negative thoughts with positive, constructive statements is called cognitive restructuring.” Still another technique to help you control communication anxiety is visualization, in which you systematically picture yourself succeeding as a speaker, then practice with that image in mind. Athletes often employ visualization to improve their performance.’  A memorable example occurred when Mark McGwire hit his sixty-second home run, breaking baseball’s historic record. In the moments before McGwire came to bat, television caught him in the on-deck circle with his eyes closed. The announcer noted, “He’s visualizing what will happen at the plate.” Using this same technique, you picture a day of success, from the moment you get up to the moment you enjoy the congratulations of classmates and teacher on an excellent speech.’ To make visualization work best, you will have to develop and enact the kind of script we suggest at the end of this chapter.’ You must have a vivid sense of your successful day for visualization to be effective.’
There are other things you can do to control communication anxiety, which go under the general heading of skills training.’Actually, just about everything you learn in a speech class can help you harness your feelings of fear. First, select a topic that interests and excites you, so that you will get so involved with it that there is little room in your mind for worry about yourself. Second, choose a topic that you already know something about so that you will be more confident. Then build on that foundation of knowledge. Visit the library. Access the Internet. Interview local experts. The better prepared you are, the more confident you will be that you have something worthwhile to say. Third, consider whether you might use a presentation aid—a chart, graph, object, or model. Referring to a presentation aid during your speech encourages gesturing, and gesturing helps release excess energy in constructive ways. Fourth, practice, and then practice some more. The more you master your message, the more comfortable you will be, and the more successful you can expect to be.’ Fifth, develop a positive attitude toward your listeners. Don’t think of them as “the enemy.” Expect them to be helpful and attentive.
Finally as we stated earlier, act confident, even if you don’t feel that way. When it is your turn, walk briskly to the front of the room, look at your audience, and establish eye contact. If appropriate to your subject, smile before you begin your presentation. Whatever happens during your speech, remember that listeners cannot see and hear inside you, They know only what you show them. Show them a controlled speaker communicating well-researched and carefully prepared ideas. Never place on your listeners the additional burden of sympathy for you as a speaker—their job is to listen to what you are saying. Don’t say anything like “Gee, am I scared!” Such behavior may make the audience uncomfortable. If your mind should go blank during a presentation, don’t panic. Go back over what you have just said, as though you are giving your audience a reminder. They will appreciate the help, and you will give your mind a chance to get back on track. Above all, keep talking. You will find your way. If you put your listeners at ease with your confident appearance, they can relax and provide the positive feedback that will make you a more assured and better speaker.
When you reach your conclusion, pause, and then present your summary and concluding remarks with special emphasis. Maintain eye contact for a moment before you move confidently back to your seat. This final impression is very important. You should keep the focus on your message, not on yourself. Even though you may feel relieved that the speech is over, don’t say “Whew!” or “I made it!” and never shake your head to show disappointment with your presentation. You probably did better than you thought, and at the very least, you don’t want to encourage negative reactions to your message.
Do these techniques really work, and is such advice helpful? Research on communication apprehension has established the following conclusions:  Such techniques do work, and  they work best in combination. Keep in mind that controlling anxiety takes time. As you become more experienced at giving speeches and at practicing the suggestions in the following Speaker’s Notes, you will find your fears abating, and your ability to convert communication apprehension into positive, constructive energy should improve.
Thus far, we have discussed controlling speech anxiety in terms of what the speaker can do, but the audience also can help speakers by creating a positive communication climate. As an audience member, you should listen attentively and look for something in the speech that interests you. Even if you are not excited about the topic, you may pick up some techniques that will be useful when it is your time to speak. When you discuss or evaluate the speeches of others, be constructive and helpful. That’s an attitude you will appreciate when others comment on your speech.