Simple steps can
reduce anxiety over
public presentations

Given the amount of time people spend at work, job satisfaction should be high, and it should contribute to general life happiness. Enjoyment can increase as people learn more about workplace psychology, communication and group influences.

Many job descriptions in today's organizations, especially for managerial positions, include the requirement that employees be effective public speakers. Even if not a requirement, people who have public speaking experience can often demonstrate this during their job interviews. If executives on the hiring committee feel that candidates can represent the company well in the community because of their speaking skills, then this will be an asset when executives make decisions about job offers.

Even though they know the advantages of speaking skills, many people dread the fact that they might be asked to address employees in their organizations or to give a talk in their communities.

These people often experience symptoms of anxiety such as increases in blood pressure, stomach cramps, increased sweating and headaches. There are steps that can be taken that can reduce anxiety.

I covered several in last week's column: obtaining public speaking experience in one's church, community volunteer organizations, or through evening courses offered by a university's outreach programs.

People can also focus on elements of a good presentation. If their talk deals with recommended changes, they can make lists to be sure that they cover both the positive and negative aspects that could follow from the changes.

When people take such a step, they often become distracted from their anxiety about speaking in public. If they focus on the content of their presentation, such as the positive and negative aspects of their recommendations, they often will forget about their symptoms of anxiety.

An old song comes to mind. In "The King and I," Anna tells her students that when she is anxious, "I whistle a happy tune, so no one will suspect I'm afraid." As well as making a good impression on others, people who engage in distracting activities might also persuade themselves that they are comfortable with their tasks.

At times, the distracting activity can involve imagining settings where people are comfortable in public. In high school, I participated in the drama club and acted in plays. Any fear of appearing in public lessened as the cast rehearsed plays again and again and as people memorized their lines. When I first started speaking in public on a regular basis, I imagined myself as an actor in a play. Since I had become comfortable in my role as actor, focusing on this activity reduced my anxiety about giving a speech in public.

Some people are known to be good storytellers at family gatherings. When giving a talk in public, they could imagine themselves telling stories to familiar and appreciative people at a family party. Further, they can think of the audience for their speech as family members whom they have known all their lives.

By engaging in this step, they are taking advantage of a fact about public presentations. Most audience members want to like the speaker. They do not want to be bored, and they want the speaker to be successful. If speakers imagine that audience members want to be appreciative, this is another technique that can reduce their anxiety.