Spend another 100 words answering these questions:
- What frightens you the most about public speaking?
- Why do you think so many people fear public speaking?
- How do you think a fear of public speaking can be overcome?
Saturday, December 20, 2014
What Scares You?
Start this homework by making a list of the five things that scare you the most. After making your list, think about where public speaking would rank on a list of all of the things that scare you. Write about this for about 50 words.
Spend another 100 words answering these questions:
Spend another 100 words answering these questions:
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My top five fears:
ReplyDelete1) Escalators
2) A severe injury or illness occurring to my partner
3) Failing by licensing exam
4) Slugs & snails
5) Damaging my teeth
Public speaking ranks very low on my list of fears. If I were to list out 100 fears, public speaking would likely be in the mid 80s, just above losing my hair and just below my creepy neighbor. Public speaking has never been a fear of mine, probably due to the fact that I have gotten a lot of experience doing it. From a young age, my parents put me in front of groups for performances or other displays. For this reason, I never developed a fear of public speaking, but rather I find it exhilarating.
If I had to pinpoint an aspect of public speaking that fear, I would say that I fear the possibility of providing misinformation. It is a part of human nature to believe what we are taught. In today’s information age, everything we find may not be correct. It would be easy, even with research, to find misinformation, and pass it along as fact. Depending on the subject, the effects of this could range from simply making myself and others sound foolish to potentially harming someone.
I believe that most people are afraid of public speaking due to the potential perceived judgment. There is a phenomenon in psychology called “the perceived audience” where we believe that we are being watched and judged at all times. This is why people feel foolish when they drop something; they believe that everyone around them saw and will be talking about it. So, when a person has an actually audience, it is not a far jump to assume that they are judging every detail, as we already believe something similar.
I think this fear can only be overcome by conditioning. Repeated practice will reduce anxiety, as the speaker can learn that no ill effects come from public speaking. Furthermore, life experience will make people realize that the perceived audience is not real, and our every action is not judged. By realizing this, people who must complete public speaking will hopefully come to the realization that people are far too concerned with their own lives to focus on the lives of other’s.
My Top Five Fears:
ReplyDelete1. Failure
2. Being completely on my own
3. Being in a car wreck
4. Getting burned
5. Ending up in large debt
While public speaking isn't in my top five fears, it certainly plays into my fear of failure. I’ve never liked having to be center of attention because I’m always terrified that I will mess up, and by messing up, disappoint my family, friends, and instructors. Over the years public speaking has become less of an issue because I became involved with theater both musical and otherwise, but failure is still a huge fear for me.
My greatest fear with public speaking is that I will mess up or fail. When I have to give presentations I get so caught up in this fear that I inevitably rush through. Timed presentations are the worst because then my prime fear is that I will then go too fast and not meet the time requirement.
I think most people fear public speaking because they don’t want mess up and then deal with the embarrassment from their mistakes. In general I think failure lies at the root of all fears in regards to public speaking.
The only way to get over public speaking fears is to do it. The only way I became less self-conscious about attention was to get involved in theater and try out for solos at school and at church. I started off small but eventually I realized that mistakes happen. I still get anxiety for presentations and the like but it isn't as bad as when I was a sophomore in high school.
After making a list of the five things that scare me the most, starting from the top would be snakes, scary movies, losing a loved one, getting lost, and being kidnapped. On this list I think public speaking would be ranked at the bottom of the list of things that scare me because it isn't a huge fear I have, it is just something that gives me high anxiety. However, the one thing that does scare me about public speaking is speaking and embarrassing myself in front of a bunch of people. Additionally, I think so many people fear public speaking because it is something not many people are accustomed to doing as they grow up. Most people are use to casually talking to one or a small group of people as opposed to a lecture hall or anything bigger than that. I do believe this fear can be overcome with a simple solution of just practicing over and over again just so that you can get comfortable with the action of public speaking.
ReplyDeleteTop Five Fears:
ReplyDelete1. Fish
2. Being seriously injured
3. Public speaking
4. Death
5. Failure
Public speaking would rank number two of the top five things that I am scared of, I really just don’t like having to get in front of a group and share my ideas I would rather just sit back and hear what others have to say. I usually avoid having to get up and talk in front of a class but I don’t take drastic measure like saying I’m sick or something along those lines
What frightens me the most about public speaking is that I might speak too fast and no one will understand what I’m talking about or that they may ask me to repeat myself. People asking me to repeat myself is normal but it sometimes makes me upset. Also I’m afraid that I will make a mistake and embarrass myself and people will not take what I’m saying seriously
I think a lot of people fear public speaking because they believe they will mess up or embarrass themselves and that people will talk about them.
I think that a way public speaking fear can be overcome is being positive before presenting and also knowing that if mistakes are made it happens to everyone and never be hard on yourself before and after presenting
My top five fears are:
ReplyDelete1) Spiders
2) Death
3) Public speaking
4) Being trapped
5) Failure
Out of my top fear public speaking would be towards the bottom. I think it only came up in the middle of my list because I'm currently thinking about it. Public speaking does go along with failure in a way. When I think of public speaking it's not necessarily the act of doing it, it's the lead up and aftermath of doing it.
The most frightening part of public speaking is putting yourself out there in front of a group of people. I don't enjoy the thought of being judged negatively or looking stupid in front of anyone, whether its people I know or strangers. Public speaking gets me anxious to the point where I feel nauseated, dizzy, uncomfortably hot and shaky. Once you've fallen into that state of being it's hard to be able to put yourself in front of and audience and feel presentable.
I think most people fear public speaking because they fear judgement and failure. Nobody wants to be remembered as the person that blanked on stage and stuttered through a nonsensical speech.
I think the only way to overcome public speaking is to do it over and over until you gain confidence in yourself. By accumulating good experiences you'll be able to focus less on the negative.
Top five things that scare me:
ReplyDelete1. Losing a loved one
2. Failure
3. Illness
4. Large bugs
5. Drowning
On a list of all of the things that scare me, I would say that public speaking would be somewhere in the middle of my list. This is because public speaking does present me with anxiety and nervousness when I am in the situation, but there are other things that I fear more than this.
The things that frighten me most about public speaking are the fear of embarrassment and being negatively judged. I don’t think anyone wishes others to look down on them, especially when they are being themselves. Another reason I fear public speaking, is because I feel uncomfortable when people stare at me. In the case of public speaking, usually an entire room of people are focused on the one individual in the front of the room and I never know where to look.
Many people probably fear public speaking because they are afraid of making mistakes and making a bad impression. No one wants to be remembered as the person who failed.
I think a fear of public speaking can be overcome with practice and experience. Also, keeping things in perspective is always a good idea. Public speaking is a fear of many people so it is not an uncommon thing to be scared of.
Things that scare me most:
ReplyDelete1. Death
2. Failure
3. Snakes
4. Losing a loved one
5. Public Speaking
Looking at my list of fears, public speaking would rank in my top 5 fears. In my past experiences of public speaking, I haven’t been scared like the top 4 on my list but at times it can be an uncomfortable experience. Ultimately, I could overthink about the thought of public speaking which can lead to affecting my performance and lead to a poor grade.
I think the things that frighten me the most about public speaking is the possibility of making a mistake or not feel like you are not being engaged by the audience. Especially talking in front of a crowd you are not familiar with or not know anyone in the audience could lead to a sense of awkwardness or uncomforting. People fear public speaking because it brings an awkward setting. When you are presenting in a class in front of peers for a class it can make you nervous even thinking about what is going on in the audience’s mind while you are speaking in public. A fear of public speaking can be overcome simply by practicing. I feel by practicing in front of people, one can better oneself as a public speaker and lead to a better performer and begin to lose the fear of speaking in public.
Things that scare me most:
ReplyDelete1. Death
2. Failure
3. Snakes
4. Losing a loved one
5. Public Speaking
Looking at my list of fears, public speaking would rank in my top 5 fears. In my past experiences of public speaking, I haven’t been scared like the top 4 on my list but at times it can be an uncomfortable experience. Ultimately, I could overthink about the thought of public speaking which can lead to affecting my performance and lead to a poor grade.
I think the things that frighten me the most about public speaking is the possibility of making a mistake or not feel like you are not being engaged by the audience. Especially talking in front of a crowd you are not familiar with or not know anyone in the audience could lead to a sense of awkwardness or uncomforting. People fear public speaking because it brings an awkward setting. When you are presenting in a class in front of peers for a class it can make you nervous even thinking about what is going on in the audience’s mind while you are speaking in public. A fear of public speaking can be overcome simply by practicing. I feel by practicing in front of people, one can better oneself as a public speaker and lead to a better performer and begin to lose the fear of speaking in public.
Top five fears:
ReplyDelete1.Heights (not so much the actual height just the thought of falling when standing that high up)
2.Failure
3.Losing a loved one
4.Not going anywhere in life
5.Becoming paralyzed
Public speaking doesn't touch my top five fears because I don't find it very dangerous. However, what frightens me the most about public speaking is a tie between two things. I absolutely dread talking about things I am not very knowledgeable in in front of people. I feel as if I am making myself look stupid.
The other fear is that I don't communicate my point correctly resulting in a bad grade and a thought of pointlessness for speaking in front of people.
I believe the biggest reason why people fear public speaking is because of judgment. Basically, what others think of them when the present their speech. They have to leave their comfort zone and go before people. The nervousness and uncertainty of the situation scares them.
I think public speaking like other things is something you can get better at by doing it more often. Like something you have to practice. I feel the more you do it the more familiar you will be with the situation. This will result in more comfort in the situation. Allowing for the destruction of all fears in public speaking.
My top five fears:
ReplyDelete1. Failing a class
2. Driving in the snow
3. Financial ruin
4. Debt
5. Spiders
Comparatively, public speaking is very low on my list of fears. While I do feel slight apprehension when speaking in front of a group, I feel more at ease if I have adequate time to prepare and focus on the task that needs to be done.
What I fear most about public speaking would be stumbling over my words while attempting to speak, resulting in not getting my point across adequately. Or, I may have something really eloquent and well thought out in my head, but I fear it doesn't sound as good once I attempt to speak what I am thinking. I feel most people fear public speaking because of the fact that all the attention, or what the speaker perceives to be all the attention, is focused on them. Humans tend to be more withdrawn and solitary in that regard, so they feel nervous and the adrenaline rush kicks in when they speak, imprinting the experience of public speaking as a negative one. I feel the best way to get over the fear of public speaking is simply doing it over and over again, and finding out how to make yourself comfortable when you speak, as I have done.
1.) Having food on my face while talking to someone.
ReplyDelete2) Looking up at something very high and imagining being up there
3) My car breaking down
4)Writing a paper
5) British Literature
Public speaking doesn't make my list because it is not something I do very often. We've only had like maybe three classes so far so its easier for me to prepare myself for class. Also after what we have learned it class I have been able to better combat speaking anxiety.
What I fear most about public speaking is going into a speech without enough/ the right knowledge. If you go into a speech without the proper knowledge you automatically look stupid. How can you worry about messing up the speech if you don't have the content to even give one. I feel as if it is easier to give a speech when you care about the topic you are giving the speech on. So far in class I've picked topics which I care about to present on and this has made things far easier. I'm not saying that public speaking isn't a fear of mine, I'm saying that it does not make my list anymore after learning a few things in class.
My top five fears:
ReplyDelete1. Centipedes
2. Being confined in a small area
3. Public Speaking
4. Fire
5. Heights
Public speaking is ranked number third on my list because I am afraid of saying something stupid or stumbling over my words. However, I often find myself in situations that involve public speaking like giving tours on campus or being a club officer. So even though public speaking plays a major role in my life, I still get anxious on occasion.
The one thing that frightens me the most about public speaking is stumbling over my words or losing my train of thought. Sometimes I find myself talking about a topic and instead of sharing my ideas I end up rambling, unless I have my ideas written down on a sheet of paper. I believe that there are many people who share the same fears as I do but the biggest fear most other people may have is saying something that others will think is stupid or incorrect. The only way to get over the fear of public speaking is to continue to practice.
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ReplyDeleteMy top five fears:
ReplyDelete1. Getting stuck on an elevator
2. Failing out of college
3. Having something in my teeth
4. Running out of money
5. Speaking in public
Public speaking is definitely in my top five fears. Although it is number five, it still haunts me every time I have to get up to speak. Whether it is in the form of speaking up in class or making a presentation in a student government meeting, there is always some form of anxiety.
What frightens me the most about public speaking would be mispronouncing words and fumbling on my thoughts in front of a large crowd. I find that this happens to me when I am nervous and this frightens me even more. I believe a lot of people fear public speaking because of the spotlight that is put on them. Having the pressure on them can by scary and not many people like to be put into that position. I believe the only way to overcome the fear of public speaking is to have experience. With experience, confidence can be built and the fear can become less scary.
From Catherine:
ReplyDeleteMy biggest fear is failure. Failing at anything makes me feel defeated, makes me feel as if I am not good enough, and lowers my self-esteem. My second biggest fear is spiders/ centipedes. They’re small and they’re extremely fast. There’re so many of them and no matter what you do, it’s impossible to get rid of them. This leads to my third fear, losing control, which is why I refuse to drink, do drugs, etc. My fourth fear is rejection because it’s hard to always prevent it. My fifth fear is getting physically hurt because it results in pain. Public speaking would be between the fourth and fifth fears.
The thing that frightens me the most about public speaking is messing up when I talk to other people. While speaking, I think way too hard about how to create the best sentences to the point where I almost forget how to speak English. For instance, I try to add big vocabulary words into everyday conversation and since I’m thinking way too hard, I forget what I have to say and start messing up my grammar or forget what I was even talking about. I think many people fear public speaking because they get anxiety from other people staring at them. I also get that, which is why it’s hard for me to maintain eye contact. I think public speaking can be overcome by practicing.
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ReplyDeleteMy biggest fear would have to be rejection or not being good enough at something or for someone. The feeling that I experienced from failing is the worst I’ve ever felt, which is why I fear it so much. My second biggest fear would have to be not being taken seriously. My third fear is succumbing to a debilitating injury; I can’t imagine having my whole life flipped upside down and not being able to do what I love. Number 4 would have to be change. Not change in general, but it can be overbearing sometimes to think about certain things that may change in your life, especially if they are abrupt changes. And number five I would have to say is losing my phone, key, or other valuable belonging. Back in high school I lost my phone numerous times and every time I went into a frenzied panic. So now I double check my pockets every time I leave a classroom or sit down. I would say public speaking, even though it’s not one of my top five fears, is still up there. The most frightening thing I’d say about public speaking ties into my top two fears: I’m afraid that I’ll fail at it or that I won’t be understood/ taken seriously. I also feel this has to do with the anxiety of speaking publicly. What if I’m so anxious that I can’t get my point across? What if I’m so anxious that I just fail miserably? This may also be why an abundant amount of people are also afraid of public speaking: the anxiety increases their fear of failure. But can this fear of public speaking be eradicated? Or at least diminished? Of course, and I’ve already made progress with my fear of public speaking. The more you speak publicly, the easier it will get: habituation. Also, during the fight or flight response, our thoughts become clouded and distorted. By knowing this, one can reassure themselves that the anxiety is natural and that what their feeling will eventually diminish and disappear. In other words, one does not fear the unknown: its better to battle on familiar ground then on foreign territory.
ReplyDelete1) Failure to achieve good with my life
ReplyDelete2) The death of a family member
3) Injuring another person
4) Ending up alone
5) Death
If ranking all of the fears that I have, I think that public speaking would probably be in the range of 15-20 on the list. This is because in the whole scheme of things, nothing really that bad can come of public speaking. Pretty much the worst that can happen is that I could embarrass myself, and while that is a big deal and it would be uncomfortable in that moment, I don’t think that it could really be that detrimental to my life to warrant being any higher on the list.
When looking at public speaking, I think that the worst part for me, or the part that scares me the most about it is either forgetting what I wanted to say and having to stand there trying to find my place in my notes to continue, or mixing up what I wanted to say and saying something that makes no sense whatsoever. Either way, I think that my biggest fear is standing in front of a group of people looking like an idiot.
I think that a lot of people, fear public speaking because they do not want to embarrass themselves in front of a group of people. People don’t like to bring attention to themselves, because when a lot of people are paying attention to you, that’s when something embarrassing will happen, and that’s exactly what public speaking does, it makes a person the center of attention.
I think that the fear of public speaking can be overcome by doing it a lot, if your used to something, and feel more comfortable, you won’t be as worried about it. Also, it’ll show you that even if something embarrassing does happen, it’s not the end of the world.
Top Five Fears:
ReplyDelete1) Windmills
2) Ladybugs
3) Ghosts
4) Failure
5) Death
Public Speaking wouldn't be a top fear on a list of all my fears. I have worked in retail for the past four years and have had to present in meetings in front of my coworkers monthly ( which is about 60 employees). It's also something that I'm not 100% comfortable with, especially when its something I wrote myself.
What frightens me the most about public speaking is that I am either going to mispronounce something, stutter, or read too quickly. I also lack confidence in my writing so when I have to read something that I personally wrote out on a sheet of paper I feel more uncomfortable opposed to kind of "free-balling" it or having just key notes in front of me.
I think some people fear public speaking because all of the attention in a room is on them, and not a lot of people are used to that. They also tend to focus on what happens if they mess up instead of focusing on what really matters in a speech, which is the message that you're trying to get across to your audience.
I think to overcome the fear of public speaking one needs to really focus on the point of the speech. Also to ease the stress of it, everyone they are talking to has also probably been in a similar situation. What I've come to realize is that uncomfortable, awkward, and embarrassing situations are just a regular part of life, and in order to succeed in what you want to do with life you have to make the best of those situations and stay as confident as possible. Over thinking wont help!
My Five Biggest Fears:
ReplyDelete1. Not finding a job after graduation
2. Snakes/Spiders
3. Losing my Parents
4. Going broke
5. Running out of gas
I would not count public speaking as a fear, necessarily. I think speaking is an area that is more stressful than it is something to fear. I do not enjoy public speaking, but I do not fear it. It is an uncomfortable experience, but I have gotten plenty of practice through my education that it is much less stressful than it used to be.
The most stressful part of public speaking is sounding like you have no idea what you are talking about. I tend to worry that someone in the audience knows more about the topic than I do and will call me out with a really tough question. I also know that I tend to talk very quickly, so I am often over thinking it as I talk, trying to hard to gauge my speed and if the audience seems to be losing me.
I think public speaking is such a common fear because people place such a high value on the opinions of others. Standing in front of a group is a vulnerable position, all eyes are on you and you have no idea what these people are thinking as they sit and stare at you. Because we tend to be hypercritical, we always think they are looking at us and judging us or disagreeing with us. Often, people do not realize how few people in the room are actually listening.
Overcoming public speaking fears is not something that happens over night. It takes practice. I liked when Professor Romans compared it to a sport, it requires practice and muscle memory, because so many people can connect with that and understand the concept. To get better, you just have to do it. Playing a sport, you cant just talk about how things are going to happen, you have to practice it until it becomes natural. This is very true for public speaking. I think the more you do it the better you feel. Plus, the feeling after, when you are done, is so gratifying that it makes the nerves and stress worth your time! I over think a lot, but I am usually proud of myself once I get it over with without any major issues.
My five biggest fears:
ReplyDelete1. Snakes, worms...(animals with a long body and no legs)
2. Deep water
3. Height
4. Loosing my loved ones
5. Being called to answer a question in class that I don't know.
I never thought of public speaking as something fearful. I do get anxiety prior to a presentation, especially in front of people I don't know too well. However, my anxiety only last for about 2 minutes (or less) in the beginning of speaking. It's like before going up the roller coaster. I would have anxiety waiting in line and all the way until my first drop down the roller coaster. Once it happen, I don't think about it anymore. I think there are other things that is more fearful than public speaking. These things would actually scare me if I have to face it.
I think the lack of confidence is the biggest cause of fear in public speaking for most people. For me, the type of audience can also be a factor. For instance, it is less stressful making a speech about something you already knew or experienced than making a presentation about a research. With audience, I wouldn't feel nervous at all talking in front of a group of young kids as compare to a group of a more knowledgeable listeners.
One way to make public speaking less fearful would be just do it. There's no need to think about it too much and develop great anxiety. It's better to go first because sooner or later, it'll just be your turn. Just get it done and over with.
Another method to lessen your fear is to know your information well. Do enough research, be well-prepared, and practice at home first. This would give you more confidence and not dreadful when it comes to addressing questions from the audiences.
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ReplyDeleteTop five things that scare me:
ReplyDelete1. scary movies
2. heights
3. death
4. not being successful
5. darkness
After finishing my list, I would say that public speaking would be right underneath number three. It is definitely not my worst fear, but I am in no way a master when it comes to public speaking.
When it comes to public speaking, I am always afraid of messing up or forgetting everything. I am a very talkative person around people I know, but once I go in front strangers I become shy and tend to forget what I am saying. I never want to make a mistake or say the wrong thing, so that is half the reason why I refrain from public speaking.
I believe that so many people fear public speaking because it was never mandatory in some schools, so if you are a quiet person nothing will give you that push or help you practice become a better speaker. Fortunately, in my high school we were required to have an oral presentation for every class in order to pass and I believe that was really helpful coming into college.
Public speaking can be overcome in many ways. The effort and dedication is key to overcoming anything. If you want to do something and put your mind to it, then you will overcome it. Many people say it is not apart of their personality and that is just how they are, but you can break free of that silence or anxiety and just practice.
Top Five Things that Scare Me:
ReplyDelete1.) Snakes
2.) Death
3.) Losing my Family
4.) Rejection
5.) Feeling like a waste
Truthfully, I am not afraid to participate in public speaking. I enjoy engaging an audience and listening to their feedback. Yes, I do talk fast sometimes, but that would never stop me from speaking out loud.
Sometimes, public speaking does scare me for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include; I talk very fast and I am afraid people will not understand me, I am afraid I will forget the context of what I am suppose to be talking about and completely "jump ship," I am afraid I will not be able to answer the audiences questions, and, above all, I am afraid of being judged. Everytime I give a speech or presentation I tell myself to avoid these things, but it is not easy. With everyone staring at you, it is very easier to lose the course of your original point and ramble on about something else. Also, you cannot read the mind of your audience, so it is also easy to assume they are judging you.
I think a lot of people are afraid to speak publicly because, like me, they are afraid of being judged. In today's society, everyone judges everyone. No one likes being judged. It is different when you are with your friends and you might say something stupid and they brush it off like it is nothing, however; if you say something stupid in front of a huge group of people, they are less likely to forget about it so easily.
Public speaking can be overcome in a variety of ways. The best way to overcome it, in my opinion, is to tell yourself you have nothing to worry about. No one likes to see you fail, rather, everyone wants to see your succeed. Also, when giving a presentation be yourself! Do not be someone else, no one came to see and listen to that other person, they came to see and listen to you! Embrace it, do not let public speaking get the best of you. Instead, you get the best of public speaking!
5 Things that scares me:
ReplyDelete1) Living with out my mother
2) Growing old with out any immediate family of my own (ex. husband, kids, siblings etc)
3) The resurrection: I hope I will be ready
4) Fatally Harming Someone
5) Rejection
Public Speaking will fit in between 4 and 5. My heart starts to pound and my breathing gets faster whenever I have to speak in front of an audience. I try to mask my nervousness by taking in deep breaths and being prepared so that things can go as smooth as possible.
What frightens me most about public speaking is being the center of attention. I don’t like to be put on the spot. Often just in a regular conversation with someone I find myself fumbling over words and mispronouncing them. I don’t want to feel like and idiot, uneducated or picked apart for my nervousness and for these reasons I believe that there are so many other people who share in my same fears. Therefore, if I can avoid public speaking all together I would but I understand that public speaking is just another hurtle that I will have to get over in life and if I stay well prepared and continually engage myself in public speaking, I will be able to overcome my fears and my nervousness will subside.
1.) Losing my battle to depression
ReplyDelete2.) German shepards
3.) Being alone
4.) Losing loved ones
5.) Failing
Honestly, public speaking doesn’t bother me too much. My father is in public relations and has always taught my brothers and me how to present. With public speaking, I’m only every worried about if what I say comes across as unintelligent. I think this is easier, of all the public speaking fears, to get over.
As I said earlier, what scares me the most about public speaking is coming across as unintelligent. I think if I better prepare myself for all my speeches then this shouldn’t be much of an issue. If you prepare to the best of your abilities then no one has any way to doubt what you say. I think many people are afraid of this. They’re also scared of just being in front of many people where they’re judging them. No matter what you’re presenting you’re in front of a group of people while you’re alone. This leaves you in the spotlight and leaves them every opportunity to judge anything about you; there’s nowhere to hide. Confidence is what truly helps this. If you’re confident in yourself and believe there’s nothing wrong with you or what you’re saying then there’s nothing to fear when presenting!
My top 5 fears:
ReplyDelete1) Death
2) Losing the ones I love
3) Brain aneurysms
4) Flying
5) Going bankrupt
I wouldn’t say public speaking ranks very high on my list of fears. I don’t enjoy public speaking and I’m not 100% comfortable doing it but it doesn’t really scare me compared to other things. I would say it’s probably in my top 50 fears. I think I more so fear the potential embarrassment that could stem from making a big mistake while speaking in public. But even that is kind of an inflated fear because you would have to make a series of substantial errors for the audience to literally laugh at how bad your presentation is. I think so many people fear public speaking because they’re afraid of getting made fun of or being embarrassed if their presentation isn’t completely perfect. And really it’s more of an imagined fear because the majority of the audience isn’t really inspecting you for every tiny mistake and waiting for the opportunity to scrutinize you for it. Oftentimes we are our own worst critic and we walk away from a presentation thinking, “oh my god that was horrible my presentation was so bad” when in reality we only made one or two small errors and the audience barely noticed them. Honestly in my opinion the only real way to get over the fear of public speaking is to do it. The more a person speaks in public the more they get comfortable with it and the less they fear it. No great speaker throughout history walked up to the podium at their first presentation ever and blew the audience away. Getting comfortable and becoming an effective public speaker requires a lot of practice, repetition, and exposure to it.
Oluwatoyin
ReplyDeleteFive things that scares me the most
1. Poverty
2. Death
3. Failure
4. Snake/reptiles
5. Plane crash
Public speaking would rank six out of ten. I am scared of speaking in front of people. Most times, I know what I want to say and how to present it but I see the people I am speaking to, fear sets in and all my ideas evaporate. I talk a lot but I don’t like public speaking. I haven’t learnt to control my fear of public speaking.
Public peaking frightens me because I am scares of making mistakes. During public speaking, I am the center of attention. People see and hear every mistake I make. If my outfit is wrong, people would notice. If I pronounce a word wrong or provide wrong information, everyone would notice.
I think people are scared of public speaking because they don’t want to be judged. Everyone has flaws but don’t want other people to judge or define them by what they see. People don’t want to be perceived wrongly.
Fear of public speaking cannot be overcome. You can never be totally healed of the fear but it can be controlled and maintained.
5 Things that scare me:
ReplyDelete1) snakes
2)height
3)spiders/ centipedes
4) change
5) failure of not competing accomplishments
Based on the on the things that scare me I would rank public speaking either a three or four. I'm not completely terrified of public speaking but it does make me nervous. If I can avoid speaking in front of large crowds I will. It's not something that I'm racing in line to do. Therefore I've been trying to embrace this class for all its worth and possibly gain techniques to help me become a confident speaker for the future.
The thing that frightens me the most about public speaking would be the eye pressure the crowd gives you. I don't like the attention focused directly on me. I guess I'm afraid of what people's perception is while I'm presenting. I have never been a person who likes a lot of attention so when all eyes are on me I get really shy or I freak out.
I think that people fear public speaking because they're afraid of ridicule or being criticized. No one wants to look foolish or be recognized by mistakes that they may encounter during a speech. so I think maybe its a confidence issue within the individual.
I believe that the fear of public speaking can be overcome but the nervous jitters will always remain. People always say practice makes perfect and I think that applies to public speaking as well. If you practice you become more confident and with confidence you become fearless. I also believe that not everyone is meant to stand in front of the public eye but others are born to be front runners. Some people do better behind the scenes and they're talents noticed from a different angle.
4)change
5) possible failure of not completing accomplishments
Based on the things that scare me I would rank public speaking as
The five things that scare me the most:
ReplyDelete1. Snakes
2. Escalators
3. Having attention drawn to me in a large group of people
4. Not knowing what the future holds
5. Clowns
I feel that public speaking would rank at number three in my list. It would not replace numbers one or two because if I even have to go near snakes or escalators I will definitely freak out, and maybe even pass out. However, if I absolutely have to speak publicly I can do it, but I will have a very high anxiety level. Furthermore, the fourth and fifth in the list I can tolerate more easily because nobody knows what the future holds (so at least we are all on the same page), and clowns are just people with an absurd amount of makeup on.
The thing that frightens me the most about public speaking is that there are so many unknowns that can occur during a presentation. I fear that I will say something ridiculous, I will drop my notes all over the place, or my audience will feel that my presentation was not worth their time to listen to.
I think that so many people fear public speaking because in one way or another they have the same fear of the unknown. Whether it is not feeling confident in the delivery of their speech, having issues with the props that they need to use, or not feeling a connection to their audience. It can be extremely intimidating that all eyes are on you and at any one moment something can go wrong.
I think the best way to get over the fear of public speaking is to speak publicly. The more you practice, the more your anxiety will go away because you will begin to find a natural rhythm and what works for you while speaking. Once you learn how to deliver your presentation, your anxiety will go away because it will feel more natural.
1. Death
ReplyDelete2. Failure
3. Ending up alone
4. Being kidnapped
5. Scary movies
On this list of what scares me the most I think public speaking would rank somewhere around 12. Not much scares me in life. So I do not enjoy public speaking and I am always nervous to do it, however I would not say it is a fear per say. I think I am more scared of the bad things that can happen when talking to a group of people or the ways I can embarrass myself while doing this.
What frightens me the most about public speaking is making a fool out of myself. For example I will forget what I am supposed to say or that I will stumble over my words. Also, I fear about how I look in front of a lot of people. How they perceive and judge me. I think so many people fear public speaking for these reasons. People want to have control in every situation but you cannot always control how people judge you or if you make a mistake. I think the fear of public speaking can be overcome by practicing. I think that is what is so great about this class. That you can practice public speaking in a setting where most people are also nervous and do not have to worry about them negatively judging you.
1. Spiders and Poisonous Snakes
ReplyDelete2. Death by drowning
3. Car accidents
4. Loss of close friends and relatives
5. House fires
Public speaking would actually fall towards the bottom of a long list of fears. I feel as if the topic is important and I am passionate about it, I shouldn’t be afraid but I also haven’t had to speak in front of more than 30 people. The thing that frightens me most about public speaking is forgetting to mention a crucial point because I don’t want to rely on cue cards. I think many people fear public speaking because there is so much social pressure when you have to talk in front of others... our society seems to have a ton of emphasis on being as perfect as possible (both with what you say, how you look, how you should react to experiences...). I believe that fear of public speaking can be overcome by practicing in stages and grading the audience. For instance, practice talking about a random topic with close friends then having a random discussion with one unfamiliar person...then two... then stand up in front of a close small group of friends to present a topic... and so on. Basically habituating your nervous system slowly and not taking a risky jump, because if you feel like you failed big time during something important, that will only make yourself hold back from putting yourself out there to talk publicly.
My top 5 biggest fears:
ReplyDelete1. Snakes
2. losing family and friends
3. not finding a job after graduation
4. spiders
5. death
My biggest fear is snakes, this has been the case since I was little. Although I never really have encountered them other than little garden snakes, I am beyond afraid of them. I have lost some of my close friend and family members to death for many different reasons and it's something I am afraid of happening again. Not finding a job after graduation is something I fear everyday. Especially with our economy, I'm afraid of having all my hard work go to waste. Many of my friends have struggled looking for jobs after graduation. Spiders are also a fear because they creep me out. I see those more often than snakes but I feel they are less harmless to me. I am also afraid of death, with everything going on in the world I tend to get nervous. People tend to be selfish and not care about others and that worries me.
Public speaking is not something I would consider a fear. It is more a stress factor to me. I get stressed about having to go up there and do it but once I am up there I tend to relax better. What frightens me the most about public speaking is the audience. If you mess up I feel they will judge me and focus on my mistakes versus the positives. In class we learn that everyone in the audience is not judging you and hoping you fail. They have all been up there too, they want you to succeed. I think a of people fear what I fear in public speaking and I also believe it is the matter of being confident in the topic. Making sure you are up there presenting with confidence and knowing what all about your topic. I also think the amount of people in the audience has, and who is in it as well. If its just a small class presentation people will tend to be more confident over if it is for a big business and you are presenting to bosses. Practice, practice, practice is a way to overcome the fear of public speaking. If a person is well prepared for a presentation it will help develop confidence, if they are confident it will be easier for them to present.
1. Ladybugs
ReplyDelete2. Disappointing people
3. Not being able to help people who need it
4. Losing people I care about
5. Failure
In this list of things that I fear, I don't think I would rank public speaking very high. Although it is not a comfortable situation to be in, I think more people than not feel this way. I wouldn't consider it much as a fear, but just uncomfortable. It is something that I know I have to do and that can be a bit nerve wracking at times but it is not something that I get all bent out of shape about. Granite I do not love it but I deal with it.
I think that many people fear public speaking because it is putting yourself in a vulnerable position and being in the spot light is not many peoples comfort zone. It is a thought of many that standing up in front of people gives the audience the chance to judge you on your looks, words, or anything else. This makes the presenter nervous and fearful. The only way to get, maybe not fully comfortable with this task, but a bit less fearful is to practice. This class offered us that opportunity to practice in an environment that was not judgmental and full of others just as nervous. I really think that this class helped with that and just overall being able to practice what obstacles the real world is about to offer us. Public speaking is inevitable and an area that everyone could improve in.
Five things that scare me most are:
ReplyDeleteSpiders
Falling down stairs
Mascots
Sleeping with my closet doors open
Failure
Public speaking would probably be within the top 50 things that scare me. I have been exposed to public speaking from a young age. I was very shy when I was younger and would not talk to many people including family members like grandparents and aunts and uncles. However, in grade school, high school, and college, I have had a lot of experience with public speaking. I probably never developed a legit fear for public speaking, but I would say I do get nervous before I have to present and question how it went after I am done.
What frightens me most about public speaking is making a mistake in my speech and having that snowball into me loosing my train of thought by focusing on that sole mistake. I would also fear providing misleading information or not being able to answer questions about the topic I presented on. I think so many people fear public speaking because they are afraid people are judging them. I think people are really concerned about what people are thinking of them and what they look like when they are in front of a crowd presenting. I think in order to overcome the fear of public speaking, one should continue to practice public speaking. Even if they start off practicing in front of a mirror and progress to family members or friends and gradually larger crowds, practice makes perfect and with practice one will over come their fears. I also think they should assess what actually scares them about public speaking and be able to focus on what scares them most. If one becomes familiar with their speech and confident on their topic and be able to understand that mistakes may happen and no one is perfect, they will do just fine speaking publicly.
The five things that scare me the most are spiders, heights, ending relationships, death, and the future. Adding public speaking, I think it ranks a lot lower than my other fears. The thing that scares me the most about public speaking is basically everything. I'm afraid of standing up in front of everyone and talking about something that no one really cares about. I really don't like having all the attention on me. The worst part is having everyone staring at me, when people are staring at me it makes me more nervous about public speaking. I think a lot of people fear public speaking because they are afraid of being judged. Even though everyone has to do it, everyone fear everyone talking about how they did, or what they're wearing, or how they talk, or just gossip about them while they are speaking. One can overcome public speaking by practicing, knowing your audience, and being prepared. By practicing your speech, it'll allow speakers to get the flow of their speech, and know where to pause and take breaths. Knowing your audience helps a little bit more. By taking a public speaking class, you know everyone in the class is there for the same reason, and no one is judging you if you mess up.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteTop 5 Fears:
ReplyDelete1) Losing a loved one
2) Initiating conversations
3) Conforming to society
4) Failing/Disappointing myself or anyone else
5) Ending up alone
Public speaking would rank among the top 10 of all the things that scare me. Public speaking itself does not necessarily freight me. Having a well developed speech or presentation formed helps to ease my nerves. As long as I am well prepared and know what I have to say I am okay with speaking in public. It is when I have to talk in front of people, about things that are not planned or written down that I have a hard time. I am not comfortable at all when it comes to talking to strangers or initiating conversations. I would not say that the act of public speaking frightens me per say, however if I think too much and psych myself out then yes it begins to overwhelm me. It can be especially overwhelming when you are not familiar with your audience, because for me, it increases the sense of inferiority. I feel like when all eyes are on you that you have to perform well or else every one will judge you. I worry about tripping over my words and not being able to get my point across to the audience. I feel like that is what also makes people resistant about public speaking, too. I believe that people do not like to open up and become vulnerable in front of an audience full of faces staring at you. It overwhelms people to think that if you mess up that everyone will see it. It is funny though because the only to overcome the fear of public speaking is to continue to practice. The more you practice the more comfortable you become when you are forced to speaking. It is important to understand that the audience is not sitting back waiting for you to mess up; but in fact cheering you on.
The top five things that scare me most:
ReplyDelete1) Losing a family member
2) Not meeting my own expectations
3) Being kidnapped
4) Death
5) Being poor
I always feared public speaking, and would speak about it as if it was my biggest fear. After making this list, it occurs to me that public speaking doesn't even make my top ten list of things I am afraid of. However, that doesn't mean I don't get anxiety when I am about to present something. My biggest fear within public speaking is my information not being factual. This especially was frightening to me when I had to do multiple presentations on Chemistry labs last semester. Having never taken a Chemistry course before, I was terrified that my information was not valid. However, with all presentations even less demanding than that, I still get very anxious. I think so many people fear public speaking, because everyone you are presenting to is evaluating you. I believe that the fear of public speaking will never be completely overcome. The only thing I would recommend is practice. Although clique, I believe that in this past year of college I have learned to present myself, and information more effectively. Therefore, resulting in higher confidence in myself upon giving a presentation or speaking publicly.
1. Dying
ReplyDelete2. Disappointing people
3. Losing friends and family
4. College loans
5. Being paralyzed
Public speaking would rank closer to the top of my list of fears. This is because I don’t have too much experience with public speaking and I am afraid that I will do something embarrassing or that what I am talking about is not interesting to people. What frightens me the most about public speaking is having everybody’s eyes on me and being exposed, most people do not care about what you say or how you look when public speaking but it is hard to truly convince yourself that when actually doing it. I think most people fear public speaking for the same reason and nobody likes to feel like they are being judged by others. I think people are able to overcome the fear of public speaking by practicing because it will allow you to be more familiar with how you act in front of people and the more you practice the easier it seems to get.