How person’s perception of the situation affects their ability to make a successful public speaking

Frames of reference and cognitive restructuring are some of the concepts discussed in the topic. According to the chapter, a person’s frame of reference is the context, viewpoint, or sets of prepositions or evaluative criteria within which a person’s perceptions and thinking are set to occur. Habitual and personal frames of reference are hugely evident among people who suffer from communication apprehension. For instance, a student can easily and comfortably converse with their fellow students, provided the environmental setup facilitates the adoption of a personal frame of reference. However, if the same student gives a presentation before these same students in a classroom setting, he is bound to suffer from communication apprehension due to the previous experience in such a presentation and the fear of failing the class. Thus, I would agree with the idea that an individual’s idea of how things will occur during a presentation will determine whether he or she will deliver a public speech successfully. 

The primary difference between habitual and personal frame of reference is a person’s attitude about the situation. Therefore, to overcome communication apprehension, cognitive restructuring is paramount. I agree with the idea that a person can adjust his attitude and perception of a given situation to help him or her to successfully partake in public speaking. For instance, while I used to have a phobia of public speaking, I have successfully overcome it through outlining objectives and distracting myself with positive thoughts to overcome the anxiety. At the beginning of any presentation, I usually start out while nervous but eventually acclimatize to the situation by just focusing on the presentation and overcoming the fear of being judged by the audience. The idea that a person’s perception of the situation affects their ability to partake in public speaking and the fact that any person can easily overcome communication apprehension through cognitive restructuring were the concepts that stood out, particularly because I have experienced them.