How to Overcome Stage Fear:

How to Overcome Stage Fear

Stage Fear is very common problem in professionals today. It is very easy for people to make comments and speak in front of known people but the major problem arises when we have to speak in front of people to whom we rarely know.

Communication skills are one of the pre-requisite today life style. Fear is nothing but the lack of knowledge which gives us feeling of risk and uncertainty. The good news about stage fear is we can remove this fear from our lives and will communication with as many people as we want to communicate through stage.

“It is just like a game how better you talk to yourself before addressing your audience will make all difference”  people usually start making judgments about your before you speak anything on stage. You need to present in the moment.  

Here below are some of the very easy yet trusted practices which will help you to overcome your stage fear and will make you very excellent communicator in life. Let’s discuss in detail:

1.       Do Proper Research about the Topic:

It is really very important to do research about the topic on which you are going to discuss with your audience.  You can do research through books, internet, journals etc related to your topic. Never give presentation for the sake of giving it. Always keep in mind when you speak you have to make sense and grab your audience focus on topic. You can engage them through storytelling, & with examples, but to do all this you need to have grip on your topic and it only comes with preparation and practice.

2.       Use Easy and Simple Language:

There is a misconception that you have to use jargon's and difficult words to give an impressive presentation on stage. Keep in mind always use language according to your audience and then deliver. Keep very thing very simple and precise so that people can able to relate it as soon as you speak. “Your creativity, innovation, courage, etiquette, confidence and presence of mind plays very critical role while speaking with large audience”.

3.       Practice in front of Mirror:

There is no substitute of practice, the more you practice the more you get confidence. For public speaking or stage speaking practice in front of mirror is very important. Reason behind is that when you address the audience you will know how exactly you look like i.e. the way you carry yourself, your body posture, facial expressions etc.

4.       Be in the Best Attire:

Looks do play an important role when you stand on stage. Wear formal’s which comforts you and the kind of event you are going to discuss. Dress neat and clean, use light fragrance perfume & smell good, wear clean footwear’s, groom properly take hair cut, clean shave etc. Keep in mind once you stand on stage people have to get impressed by the way you carry and speak with them all this boost your self-confidence.

5.       Keep Smile while Greeting Audience:

People like and attracts towards smiling faces. There is a huge difference between smile and laugh. You need to know when to smile and when to take pause, it will give time to audience to think over what you speak and you get time to recall what next you are going to deliver.

6.       Take Deep Breath & Be Calm:

While standing on stage nervousness and anxiety makes you uncomfortable so here is a simple trick to overcome that you just need to take deep breath and concentrate about what you have ready. Over stage you can star with greetings, take deep breath and confess about your nervousness then take a minute pause and meditate rather say close your eyes and concentrate and start your presentation.

7.       Be Interactive with your Audience:

You have to built connection with your audience by making eye contacts, engaging the in one on one interaction, ask questions, be emphatic and attentive when you audience respond to you may take pause by drinking water after asking a question on share some thought on which you want your audience to think. Make them feel special and try to make it a two-way communication. It helps both you and audience. The more you make audience comfortable the more they support you.

8.       Have Positive Body Language:

Here you need to focus on your non verbal communication skills, keep your head high and body straight it shows self-respect, do a firm hand shakes, keep smiling, be polite yet assertive, your appearance, facial expression, gestures & postures, voice tone and proximity. Stop self negative talks and focus on what you have and how you deliver.

9.       Only You Knows, What You Don’t Know:

It is very common that on stage usually people get stuck, sometimes get blanked and this will give you moment of self insult but the game changer are those who overcome as soon as it happens. When you are addressing the audience you only knows what you are going to discuss and if some points may get shuffled, it doesn’t matter because your audience never know what you going to speak next.

10.   Give your Best & Prepare for the Worst:

Last but not the least while doing public/stage speaking you never know how your audience react so you need keep focus on what you want to deliver and if something not going in the way you want so don’t get stuck or fearful, but you have to use your creativity and promptness by giving quick answers to take lead of your audience minds.

The only rule for success is how well you prepared and how well you deliver in case of stage speaking. There are times you may fail initially but gradually with practice and preparation you succeed to overcome your stage fear. These tips and tricks are which based on practical life experiences of professionals. Use these tips in your day-to-day life and enhance your personality.