Exercises on Speech Anxiety
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- Impromptu question: Try answering while seated at the table. Then try standing to present the answer to a question. Printable Impromptu Questions Master List
- Make a list of fears, then discuss the solution or worst case scenario (not as bad as the student thinks)
- The fight-or-flight instinct causes energy to be in the chest. Practice grounding yourself by taking slow, deep breaths and imagining your energy channeling through your feet into the floor or the ground.
Suggested links
Kelly McGonigal's TED talk: How to Make Stress Your Friend: http://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend.html
Presenting Science for the Anxiety Averse; article in Science: http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2011/06/presenting-science-anxiety-averse
General tips to manage anxiety: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/headlines/matt-abrahams-how-do-you-make-memorable-presentation