White Knuckle Speaking: Overcoming the FEAR of Public Speaking

by Andy Ruppanner

Overview

Overcome speaker's fear with this humorous but informative "How To" book from an experienced public speaker. Remove the personal terror of speaking to a group.

Public speaking is an experience feared by most people. Fear of public speaking is the highest rated of top ten fears listed in "The Book of Lists." The fear of public speaking is even listed ahead of the fear of death! Being afraid to speak in front of a group of people is a very real problem that virtually everyone faces at sometime in their life. I wrote this book to help anyone who suffers even a little nervousness when faced with a public speaking situation. It contains a roadmap to overcoming "Speaker's Fear" and presentation tips and techniques for you to present your subject professionally. If you find yourself speaking to an audience with the stress of speaker's fear wracking your mind and body, hiding behind the podium and grasping it so tightly that your knuckles will turn white from reduced of blood circulation...you are a "WHITE KNUCKLE SPEAKER"... and you will benefit from the information in this book.

You know the old adage that sometime you get the Tiger, and sometimes the Tiger gets you? This book is about how to tame the Tiger of speaker's fear!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780595170180
Publisher:	iUniverse, Incorporated
Publication date:	02/20/2001
Pages:	156
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Throughout his 30 years of executive business experience with IBM and Office Depot, and as an entrepreneur founder of several technology companies, Andy has developed and applied his skills as a visionary public speaker and strategist to the benefit of his companies, clients, and community.

An MBA from Emory University, Andy is an exciting leadership speaker of national reputation, and the recipient of many significant awards for managerial excellence and community service.

His book White Knuckle Speaking is both entertaining and effective. A product of over twenty-five years of public speaking, the book is a cornerstone of understanding, information and techniques to overcome Speaker’s Fear.

A “patriot” for business in America, Andy is committed to the premise that business leadership is the preferred agent for accomplishing positive change and stability in our society.

Andy Ruppanner, President of Ruppanner Associates International, may be contacted via his website at www.ruppanner.com.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

FEAR IS A FOUR-LETTER WORD!

Riots were shocking America that hot summer in 1968. The nation's population, transfixed to their televisions watched, as the 1968 Democratic National Convention became the centerpiece of National attention.

Against this highly charged backdrop, a young governor from Georgia was selected to introduce Hubert Horatio Humphrey, the distinguished Senior Senator from Minnesota, and Vice-President of the United States, as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency of the United States.

Sensing the historical implications of this moment, for the nation and his own political career, Governor James Earl “Jimmy” Carter approached the convention podium. The convention fell silent, throughout the nation, millions of TV viewers joined with their attention. Destiny was at hand, as Governor Carter began the speech of his lifetime.

Towards the conclusion of his speech Governor Carter was building to the introduction of Senator Humphrey with a crescendo of remarks laden with praise. At the heightened moment of anticipation, to the cheering throng, Governor Carter said: "....and it is my pleasure to introduce to you the next President of the United States, Hubert Horatio Hornblower".

And you think speaking in front a group is only difficult for you? How could such a dramatic embarrassment occur to an experienced speaker at such a practiced moment? The answer is, the "Tiger" got him! The "Tiger" is the dreaded speaker's fear, the root cause of White Knuckle Speaking.

The pressure to be effective, and not be embarrassed in this situation, translates into fear, and it potentially affects all who accept the responsibility to be a public speaker. Although your opportunity to speak may not be nearly as pressure charged as that of Jimmy Carter's at the Democratic National Convention, it may feel that way, or worse, to you.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

The author of "The Book of Lists" found that 41% of those surveyed rated public speaking their worst fear, while only 19% rated their worst fear as death. The top ten fears as listed in "The Book of Lists", by David Wallechinsky, and Amy Wallace are:

The fear of:

1. Speaking before a group.
2. Heights
3. Insects and bugs
4. Financial problems
5. Deep water
6. Sickness
7. Death
8. Flying
9. Loneliness
10. Dogs

What you can ascertain from these statistics is, that when it comes to public speaking, you are obviously not alone in feelings of nervousness or apprehension that lead to gripping the podium so tight with your hands that you transform into a White Knuckle Speaker.

TIME magazine quoted famous actor Jimmy Stewart: "I've never been able to overcome the fear thing."

In the 1920’s noted radio announcer Harry Von Zell introduced then President Herbert Hoover to a national radio audience as "President Hoobert Heever"

The "Tiger" of speaker's fear, scientifically named laliophobia, strikes at us all. Actors, announcers, politicians, sports personalities, public speakers, and yes, even you. It can cause misspeak, mental lapses and even physical problems. Your actions when dealing with this phenomena can be called anything from freezing up, to choking, but we all know the feeling well. The challenge is to learn how to handle the "Tiger" when it shows up.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	ix
Part 1	Learning About Speaker's FEAR: The Care and Feeding of a "Tiger"	1
Chapter 1	FEAR is a Four-Letter Word!	3
Chapter 2	Understanding the FEAR	13
Chapter 3	Addressing the Problem	27
Chapter 4	Deflection and Diffusion Techniques	34
Part 2	Preparation with Structure: Building a "Tiger" Cage	45
Chapter 5	The Basics	47
Chapter 6	Structuring Your Presentation	55
Chapter 7	"Tiger" Taming Presentation Tools	65
Part 3	More FEAR Reduction Techniques: Making the "Tiger" Dance	79
Chapter 8	The Room	81
Chapter 9	The Audience	93
Chapter 10	The Inner You	103
Part 4	It's Showtime!: A Trained Tiger is a Wonderful Pet	119
Chapter 11	The Outer You	121
Chapter 12	Putting it All Together	128
	About the Author	137
	Bibliography	139