The authors, Harrison Monarth and Larina Kase debunk the many fallacies associated with coping with the anxiety associated with all forms of speaking in public. They show how many avoidance behaviours and over-compensation activity can compound the anxiety problem and the stress.
Understanding Speaking Anxiety and Preparing to Beat it
The first part of The Confident Speaker covers these issues and explores the source and nature of anxiety around speaking. It even considers informal social interaction.
Part 2 shows how to deal with the anxiety in sensible and practical ways. It provides detailed advice on preparing and giving a presentation Much of the advice applies equally to preparing written documents, especially with regard to understanding the audience and the objectives for the presentation
In Part 3 The Confident Speaker provides a tool kit for the nervous speaker. However it will be useful for confident speakers to review much of the advice It will allow them to raise their game and to develop their use of voice, body language and audience engagement to establish rapport with an audience.
Speaking and Communicating in the Real World
The final part of The Confident Speaker explores speaking and communication other than the formal set-piece presentation. Many people become tongue-tied and anxious in many other situations and Monarth and Kase provide advice an techniques for dealing with these. In particular they give guidance on:
- Participating in meetings
- Interviews
- Social engagement including parties
- One to one with one’s boss or other authority figures
The Confident Speaker then moves on from the techniques in part three to describe other aspects of speaking and audience perceptions. It shows ways in which speakers can improve their performance and deal with mistakes, crisis and conflict.
Guidance for the Experienced Speaker
As well as providing advice for the inexperienced and anxious speaker, The Confident Speaker is a valuable refresher for competent speakers. Many such speakers will find new tips and techniques that they can use to improve their performance. Speakers of all abilities will find suggestions as to where they can find opportunities for practice and support in order to extend their speaking skills. For those that are so inclined The Confident Speaker will also provide guidance on how to develop a career in public speaking.
A Guide for Speakers of All Abilities
Everyone who needs to speak in public, whether formal or informal, should have a copy of this book. Even experienced speakers will learn something and it will be a useful reference to refresh and continue the development of their presentation skills.
Larina Kase PhD, MBA, is a psychologist specialising in peak performance skills, anxiety and stress management for executives and entrepreneurs.
Harrison Monarth is founder and president of GuruMaker - School of Professional Speaking. A high-impact communications consulting firm that includes Fortune 500 companies in its client list.
The Confident Speaker, Beat Your Nerves and Communicate at Your Best in Any Situation (2010, ISBN:978-0-07-148149-6) by Harrison Monarth and Larina Kase is published by McGraw Hill at £13.99.
Martin P Wilson - Martin is a director of major business change & turnaround consultant by profession but a widely published writer & photographer by ...
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