Communication Apprehension, Interpretive Styles, Preparation and Performance in Oral Briefing

Abstract

This paper introduces the constructs o/interpretive styles from the empowerment literature. It proposes these styles as cognitive variables that shape communication apprehension (CA). We report an empirical study of oral briefings by naval officers. Results show that CA was linked to two interpretive styles: it was positively linked to deficiency focusing (the tendency to focus on what is wrong, can go wrong, and is wrong with oneself) and negatively linked to envisioning success (the tendency to build mental images of succeeding). Results also show that CA diminished performance on the briefing, and that greater preparation was not an effective way of coping with apprehension.