2008 Woodie Awards
Speak easy: Dr. Claude Caffee offers helpful tips
Katy Adcox
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: News
All people have a different technique to cope with their fear of public speaking. Winston Churchill imagined his audience members naked to overcome his public speaking anxiety.
There is no one correct way, but Dr. Claude Caffee, vice president of student development, offered some words of advice to a room full of attentive students.
Caffee said the most important component to public speaking is preparation.
"We want to be perfect … as a result, we feel anxiety," he said.
Thorough preparation is one way to reduce this anxiety, but there is no magic formula, Caffee said.
Caffee related polishing an English paper to practicing for a speech. He said it is good to practice in front of a friendly audience, like with family and friends, to get feedback. If the speech requires visual aids or use of an overhead projector, practice with these items.
Becoming comfortable with the surroundings and props will help reduce anxiety. He said not to leave anything to chance when it comes to public speaking.
Many people become short of breath, shaky, go blank or all of the above when they are put in front of a crowd. Caffee said while 75 percent of speaking anxiety is reduced by preparation and rehearsal, 15 percent is reduced by breathing techniques and the remaining 10 percent is mental.
Caffee said, "You don't come into the world knowing to speak this way; you must work at it."
It is natural to feel an adrenaline rush, but after preparation, breathing and the right mental state, use this as an advantage.
Caffee said that adrenaline is the cheapest drug because the body naturally produces it.
Though it can make a person feel anxious, it also provides energy that can assist in public speaking.
Speaking is about building relationships. Caffee advised making eye contact when speaking, looking for the friendly faces and speaking to the crowd. The audience must feel engaged in the speech.
"Audiences are very forgiving … but they will not be forgiving if the speaker comes across as pompous," Caffee said. "Being humble in front of others makes you more credible, more believable and, paradoxically, more respected."
There is no one correct way, but Dr. Claude Caffee, vice president of student development, offered some words of advice to a room full of attentive students.
Caffee said the most important component to public speaking is preparation.
"We want to be perfect … as a result, we feel anxiety," he said.
Thorough preparation is one way to reduce this anxiety, but there is no magic formula, Caffee said.
Caffee related polishing an English paper to practicing for a speech. He said it is good to practice in front of a friendly audience, like with family and friends, to get feedback. If the speech requires visual aids or use of an overhead projector, practice with these items.
Becoming comfortable with the surroundings and props will help reduce anxiety. He said not to leave anything to chance when it comes to public speaking.
Many people become short of breath, shaky, go blank or all of the above when they are put in front of a crowd. Caffee said while 75 percent of speaking anxiety is reduced by preparation and rehearsal, 15 percent is reduced by breathing techniques and the remaining 10 percent is mental.
Caffee said, "You don't come into the world knowing to speak this way; you must work at it."
It is natural to feel an adrenaline rush, but after preparation, breathing and the right mental state, use this as an advantage.
Caffee said that adrenaline is the cheapest drug because the body naturally produces it.
Though it can make a person feel anxious, it also provides energy that can assist in public speaking.
Speaking is about building relationships. Caffee advised making eye contact when speaking, looking for the friendly faces and speaking to the crowd. The audience must feel engaged in the speech.
"Audiences are very forgiving … but they will not be forgiving if the speaker comes across as pompous," Caffee said. "Being humble in front of others makes you more credible, more believable and, paradoxically, more respected."
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