What Is Performance Orientation for Public Speaking?

According to the University of Central Florida, people fear public speaking more than they fear insects, heights, snakes, illness and even death. This fear increases when the speaker has a performance orientation mentality. This means that he focuses more on his method than on his mission. He focuses on impressing the audience with his speaking skills rather than on the audience’s understanding of the message.

Performance Orientation

A speaker with a performance orientation worries about how the audience perceives him. He fears that they will criticize his subject, how he is dressed, the way his voice sounds, etc. He believes he needs to rely on special tricks and techniques to successfully engage the audience. This mentality often results in behavior that may come across as insincere and unnatural.

Communication Orientation

Rather than holding a performance orientation, speakers should hold a communication orientation. This means communicating the message as if they were having a casual conversation with a friend. Communication orientation is helpful because no one in casual conversation forgets what he wants to say in midsentence. Speakers with this mentality don’t have to memorize a speech word for word and worry about losing his place. A speaker who embraces a communication orientation can relax and be himself.

Symptoms

While it’s natural to be nervous while giving a speech, extreme physical symptoms often reveal whether the speaker’s attention is focused on himself or focused on the audience. Common symptoms include nausea, sweaty palms, elevated blood pressure, elevated heart rate, shortness of breath, dry mouth and muscle tension. These can be controlled by focusing on the positive and performing calming breathing exercises.

Remedies

A speaker can avoid the anxiety that accompanies performance orientation by putting the needs of the audience ahead of his fear of failure. This process begins during preparation of the speech. The speaker should plan well and practice as much as possible. Spending adequate time in the early stages gives the speaker confidence that he is giving the audience the best information possible and that they will enjoy what he has to say.

References

• Public Speaking Rules: Public Speaking Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias
• Cengage Learning: Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking
• The Challenge of Effective Speaking; Rudolph F. Verderber, et al
• Becoming a Master Student; Dave Ellis
• University of Central Florida: Speech Anxiety