Self-efficacy for Public Speaking

When looking towards public speaking, the initial reactions on this personal issue happen to include fear, anxiety and unabashed nerves. But, there is the understanding of what one could achieve by surpassing those things. Public speaking in and of itself, is quite beneficial to the constant development and improvement of one’s being from a physical, mental and emotional perspective. With regards to self-efficacy, one may instead approach this worrisome activity with a tacit convention and a steadfast demeanor, allowing one to appreciate and become more satiated with the positive aspects of the challenges provided by said activity while discouraging whatever negative aspects underlie what is often considered a frequent and necessary facet of academia, various livelihoods and general social constructs. From previous experience with public speaking and activities related to it, I came into it thinking I was going to fail and therefore repeat it once more, albeit with a defeated outlook about it; however, I realized in the midst of the activity that the process of self-efficacy was a necessary part of succeeding where I have once failed.

Whenever I looked towards my prior experiences with public speaking, I have always considered the overwhelming majority of unfortunate outcomes. This kind of perspective about public speaking dominated frequently in situations where performing the activity could be perceived as a failure. However, overcoming the hindrance of failure required frequent exposure and constant practice with the activity at hand. As a result, my self-efficacy with regards to prior experiences was enhanced further through sporadic but consistent instances wherein I had or was given an opportunity to practice the skill. When it came to behavior models, I practiced whatever was instructed of me in the course I took and realized the potency of the methods provided. I would write out index cards before-hand and read them constantly until I finally had the words in my head and I was always sure to request assistance whenever I needed it. Although I had been previously reluctant to ask for help due to previous experiences, realizing its effectiveness also helped to further my own sense of self-efficacy as I had people to assure me of my performance, thus ensuring a less stressful experience with the activity. We were all in the same boat and expected much of each other for our own individual performances, thus ensuring we all worked steadily, creatively and carefully on the speeches we conducted for our familiar audience.

When it came to how I felt during my public speaking performances, I was initially distraught at how difficult the activity had seemed. So during a recent speech, I decided to do something different and decided to give the audience a good time. I later discovered that enjoying what I was doing rather than ruminating over how long it was taking and persevering through it made it seem less frightening to undergo and I just felt more comfortable with my performance right after its conclusion. Fear also took an unseen physical toll on the body as well but overcoming it with an unyielding belief of self-efficacy with regards to a successful public speaking performance allowed me to succeed in the endeavor of passing the course.

Although initially reticent at the idea of speaking openly to an audience, I overcame my apprehension of public speaking. The familiarity stemming from experiencing the highs and lows aided me in learning a valuable life-long skill. If anything, my self-efficacy drove me to transcend hurdles that were previously unheard of to me, thus ensuring my success at the activity through a prolonged method of seeking guidance and practicing good habits.