We’ve all experienced the fight, flight or freeze response. It’s an automatic (and autonomic!) reaction to perceived danger that can flood our systems with adrenaline for fighting, send us running for the hills, or make us freeze up and stop breathing. It’s obvious that not breathing could make it difficult to deliver a presentation; but the flight part of this reaction can also Read More
Fear of Public Speaking and Self-Criticism
Public Speaking Tip 10: For Public Speaking Phobia, Get Help
First, the good news: It’s not true that most people fear public speaking more than death. (Two University of Nebraska communications professors recently confirmed through their research that public speaking is a common fear, not the worst fear.) The bad news is that plenty of people do suffer when it comes to public speaking. Charles diCagno — Director of Public Speaking Center Read More
Public Speaking Tip 9: Embrace the Public Speaking Stress
My mom (shown below in 2006 with eight of her nine grandchildren) used to say that the most important thing about any problem was how you coped with it. As the survivor of a cerebral aneurysm, a three-month coma, uterine cancer, two strokes, and early widowhood, Mom knew what she was talking about. But it turns Read More
Public Speaking Tip 1: Lose that Scorecard in Your Mind
You’ve probably heard the expression, “good is the enemy of great,” right? In our achievement-oriented culture, the meaning of that phrase is clear: Don’t settle. Don’t be” just” good when you can push, push, push yourself to be… well, great! Yeah, yeah, whatever! If you’re reading this post, you’re probably pretty ambitious. And I’m as Read More
Be Your Super Self: Call On Your Public Speaking Avatar
Sometimes you need a little extra juice to get the public speaking job done right. And when that’s the case, it’s wonderful to know that you can don the Public Speaking Avatar of your choice and instantly bring extra pizazz and power to the proceedings. What’s a Public Speaking Avatar? Your Public Speaking Avatar is you… but Read More