How to Overcome Stage Fear While Speaking Publicly
Did you know this?
Gloss phobia or speech anxiety is the fear of public speaking. It is the fact that almost everyone has this fear at least in the initial stage or for the first time speaking in public. According to one estimate, about 75% of people who fear public speaking may have a real fear of being embarrassed or rejected.
Here’s my on-stage story
I have had this stage fear since the days of my primary schoolings. One of my favorite teachers requested me to take part in an oratorical competition. It was during this time when I had to get on stage and present the elocution. I was nervous as hell and did not know how to deal with it. I could refuse my teacher’s request and had no idea how I was going to present it the very next day.
I came back home from school and was dumbstruck!
I was an introvert and hence couldn’t communicate this to my parents or friends.
I started preparing notes for the same and stood in front of the mirror looking blank on my own face. After a while, I looked at the piece of crumpled paper with some scribbled notes, started to read them. I was initially stammering and wasn’t clear on any of the words from the first sentence. I felt so terrible and tears started rolling down my eyes.
My father was watching me doing all of these stunts from the window from quite some time. He knew I was into some issue and wasn’t conveying it to him. He came to my room and asked me what is it that I’m trying to achieve? I told him about the bigger challenge that I’d be encountering the next day!
He gave me a few tips that helped me perform like a pro. Here are the tips
- Practice, Practice and more practice
- Get on the stage with a smile!
- Take a deep breath, calm yourself down and relax!
- Imagine your favorite person in your mind. Then present like you are talking to them.
- Forget that people are sitting in front of you. Talk. ..don't present or read ever!
- Be Positive and self-motivated.
- Be yourself and don't worry about the negativity.
- It is ok to miss a few points here and there.
- SPEAK LOUDLY, SPEAK VISUALLY!
He mentioned the above points and then walked off the door. I practiced the entire night and was nervous but excited too. The next day arrived. I was all geared up for it. I knew I wasn’t well prepared but then I had gained some confidence from my father’s words.
My name was called and my palms started sweating. I got off the chair and started walking towards the stage. I climbed up the stairs and was trying to recollect the points I was to present in a few seconds.
Finally, when I stood in front of the podium, held the mic in my hand, saw the huge audience I was almost about to faint. But then I remembered my father’s tips. I imagined a virtual figure in my mind and started to talk with a welcome greeting. My friends weren’t very much confident about my performance on the stage , But about that they were wrong.
I went on talking and finished my speech. The audience gave a big round of applause and my friends gave a thunderous one.
Calming yourself down, getting the right boost before/during the preparation. Surrounding yourselves with positivity and with people, who care for you, surely helps a lot.
Next time when you get on stage, drink a sip of water, smile at a friend and take over the dais. You’d be surprised with the results then!