OVERCOMING COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION

OVERCOMING COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION
It is possible to reduce and manage our communication anxiety. Given below is a list of tips compiled from different sources.
1. Remember that communication apprehension or anxiety is a very natural and normal human emotion.
2. Accept that you have communication apprehension.
3. What are your fears? Make a list of your fears and see whether they are realistic.
4. Be determined to overcome your communication anxiety. Take steps immediately.
5. Practice breathing and relaxing. Deliberate slow breathing can reduce most fear.
6. Prepare ahead. Last minute preparation makes you feel uncomfortable in front of an audience.
7. Structure your presentation. It helps you reduce your fear to a great extent.
8. Use visual aids such as power point and videos; they can help you remember different parts of your speech. If your visual aids are effective, the focus of the audience will be on the visuals rather than on you.
9. Get support from your friends or teachers. Discuss your topic with them and get their guidance. It helps you gain confidence.
10. Have positive thoughts. Tell yourself that you are going to make a successful presentation.
11. Know your audience.
12. Don’t memorize your speech. This means, reduce your script to a key-word outline, constantly practicing reducing the notes to keywords. Eventually you might not even need notes.
13. Dress for focus. Wear comfortable and appropriate clothes.
14. Remember that you can learn from others. Watch your classmates and learn, but do not compare yourself to them and put yourself down.
15. Be aware of your time limit.
16. Remember you can become a successful communicator.