Facing Your Fears: A Practical Guidebook for Your Journey to More Confident Public Speaking

For teachers and employers:

Have you ever wished for a magic wand that, with the casual wave of your hand, could dispense confidence and assertiveness to your students or employees who are terrified of delivering a presentation? If you are troubled by the visible anxiety you see in your students or employees at the mention of the word "speech" and you are searching for a way to help them help themselves, "Facing Your Fears" may be the answer! Written in an engaging and conversational style, this practical guide takes anxious public speakers on a personal journey toward confident and enthusiastic public speaking skill development. Readers will learn how to change their mindset and develop public speaking self-efficacy, overcome mental and physical barriers to their success, adopt strategic instead of self-sabotaging behaviors, write effective outlines, and deliver presentations with confidence. Ten brief chapters are full of clear examples and research-supported anxiety management techniques. As readers learn how to avoid self-destructive thinking patterns, minimize anxious feelings, and take proactive and positive action steps, their public speaking confidence will grow and the word "speech" will no longer send them into a downward spiral of overwhelming fear and dread. Functioning as a stand alone supplement for a public speaking class, a required text for a public speaking anxiety management course, or professional development resource material for apprehensive employees, "Facing Your Fears" is designed to reduce speech anxiety, increase confidence, and enhance the reader’s communication skill set.

For students/employees:

Do you avoid certain college classes or employment opportunities because you know they require public speaking? Do you become visibly anxious at the mention of the word "speech?" Have you ever wished for a magic wand that, with a casual wave over your head, would dispense public speaking confidence? If you are sick and tired of experiencing a bad case of public speaking nerves and are ready to do something about it, "Facing Your Fears" may be the answer! Written in an engaging and conversational style, this practical guide will take you on a personal journey toward confident and enthusiastic public speaking skill development. You will learn how to change your mindset and develop public speaking self-efficacy, overcome mental and physical barriers to your success, adopt strategic instead of self-sabotaging behaviors, write effective outlines, and deliver presentations with confidence. Ten brief chapters, filled with clear examples and research-supported anxiety management techniques, help you learn how to avoid self-destructive thinking patterns, minimize your anxious feelings, and take proactive and positive action steps. Your public speaking confidence will grow and the word "speech" will no longer send you into a downward spiral of overwhelming fear and dread. Stop avoiding classes or lucrative career opportunities. Today is the day you chart a new course toward success and begin “Facing Your Fears!”