How to Overcome Stage Fright in Everyday Life

The key to overcoming stage fright is to practice, practice, practice.

Sure, no one ever died of stage fright. But try telling that people who suffer from glossophobia or the fear of speaking in public. When all eyes in the room are on them, most of them feel at least some of the classic symptoms of the fight-or-flight response--sweaty palms, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, shaking legs and memory loss. Never fear--there are tricks and techniques to help you overcome this most common of phobias.

Instructions

1. Practice. Stage fright and fear of public speaking lessen the more we perform. Consider joining a local Toastmasters group where you can regularly practice public speaking in a supportive environment. Offer a lecture at a local library, church or service club on a subject you are passionate and knowledgeable about.

2. Be prepared. Know your material intimately and make sure you have practiced your speech a number of times before the event. Arrive ahead of time to familiarize yourself with your audience and the space where you will be performing. Meet with and greet audience members. You will learn about their perspectives and get clues about the kinds of questions you may be asked after your speech or performance.

3. Breathe deeply before you take the stage. Anxiety causes us to breathe in quick shallow gasps. Slow your breathing and remember to take oxygen all the way down to the bottom of your lungs. You will feel more calm and be better able to cope with the stress of the situation.

4. Visualize yourself performing successfully, down to the audience's ovation. This will put you in a positive frame of mind and help you stay calm.

5. Open with an appropriate joke or anecdote. This will loosen up the audience and get everyone on your side.

6. Focus on others, not yourself. If you are making a speech, look at individual audience members and deliver your message to them. Remember that people want to hear what you have to say. It is about your speech and not about you.

7. Be kind to yourself. Even professional speakers and performers get nervous and make mistakes. Recognize that you are your own harshest critic. Learn from your mistakes, but be encouraging of your own efforts.

8. Fake it until you make it, writes veteran Toastmaster Michael Landrum in an article, "The Habit of Courage." The symptoms of stage fright are often invisible to the audience, so don't draw attention to your fear, and likely no one will know you were anxious or frightened.

References

• Businessweek.com: Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking
• Toastmasters International: The Habit of Courage
• Top 7 Business: Top 7 Practical Tips For Overcoming Stage Fright
• Toastmasters International: 10 Tips For Public Speaking
• I Am Panicked: Too Tense to Perform? It Could Be Performance Anxiety Disorder

Resources

• "In the Spotlight-Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and Performing"; Janet E. Esposito; 2005