The fear of public speaking, at any level, is something all extempers must navigate at some point in their speech career. Whether you’re an experienced competitor or a newcomer, it’s never too late to improve your extemp game with these confidence-boosting tips:
Internal vs. External Fears
The causes of glossophobia, or fear of public speaking, can be categorized into two main types: internal and external. While these categories are distinct, it’s important to note that they often overlap.
External Fears: These fears primarily stem from anxiety about how others perceive you. Speakers may try to predict or overanalyze the opinions of spectators and judges. This anxiety frequently manifests in closed body language and nervous habits, such as tucking hair or adjusting clothing mid-speech. Scientific research shows that social anxiety is often linked to heightened amygdala activity in the brain’s fear center. This overactivity can trigger excessive self-monitoring and self-criticism, leading to physical signs of discomfort like stiff posture or fidgeting. Building routines that reinforce control and positive presence can reduce this response over time.
Internal Fears: These stem from overanalyzing your own performance. Thoughts like “Did that hand gesture look awkward?” or “Did I remember that source correctly?” are common. Internal fears are often seen in experienced speakers hyper-focused on refining technique or novices who fixate on the activity’s how rather than the what. Research suggests that internal fears are tied to the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s area responsible for planning and judgment. When overactive, this region interferes with automatic speech processes, making speakers feel mentally “stuck.” Practicing drills that promote automaticity can help bypass this over-analysis.
By identifying when and how you experience social anxiety, you can take conscious steps to relax, reduce, and confront these fears. Reflect on when you feel the most tension. Is it before the round? During prep? Mid-speech?
Tips for Managing External Fears
1. Tabroom Paradigms: Familiarizing yourself with your judges’ preferences, faces (via a quick online search), or names can provide a sense of preparedness and control. Recognizing patterns in your comfort level—whether you perform better in front of familiar faces, strangers, or with one judge versus five—helps you target areas for growth. Once you identify your optimal conditions, intentionally practice for less familiar or more intimidating settings.
2. Be Big: Projecting confidence helps establish a presence. Ask a friend or sibling to watch you walk into a room and introduce your speaker number and question. First impressions form within 10 seconds, so make those moments count. Standing tall, maintaining open body language, and speaking clearly can shape positive perceptions.
3. Mastering Meaningless Eye Contact: If intense eye contact from judges unnerves you, try this drill: Deliver your extemp speech while wearing sunglasses or a blindfold (just be sure to remove tripping hazards!). This technique helps you focus on content rather than audience reactions. Progressively shift from covering your eyes to practicing with stuffed animals or teammates to live judges as you gain confidence. This way, eye contact will become a secondary concern.
Tips for Managing Internal Fears
1. In, Out, In: Right before stepping into your round, practice intentional breathing exercises. A quick inhale, exhale, and inhale activate your body’s parasympathetic response, signaling your lungs to relax. This simple exercise can ground you as you begin your speech. Allow your mind to clear – this comes with practice.
2. Extemp Eminem: To improve fluency and prevent overthinking, try this drill: Select a random mid-length analysis article (ideally one with an explanatory-persuasive tone) and read it aloud as fast and clearly as possible. Repeat the exercise, this time emphasizing keywords and inserting intentional pauses. This method trains your brain to maintain speech flow under pressure and minimizes stutters or pauses caused by overthinking.
3. Mastering Meaningful Eye Contact: For visual thinkers, losing track of points often triggers aimless eye movements. This happens when your brain struggles to pace thoughts with words. To improve focus, practice pacing your arguments while alternating meaningful eye contact between two fixed points (like two judges or corners of the room) at each key idea. This technique reinforces organized thinking while enhancing your delivery’s impact.
Final Thoughts
If you experience anxiety in extemp, you’re not alone — in fact, most extempers do! Fear is common, but it’s not a reason to quit. Learning to manage that fear can make you a stronger speaker and competitor. Remember, nerves are a sign that you care, and with practice, you can turn that energy into confidence. Keep pushing forward — you’ve got this!