Avoiding stage fright
It starts with a funny feeling in your stomach. Then your palms begin to sweat. You try to concentrate on what you want to say, but your mind's a blur. You wish you were somewhere else. Sound familiar?
If you've ever had to speak in front of a group, you've probably experienced the symptoms just described. You're not alone.
Stage fright (extreme nervousness) is a problem that even the most seasoned speakers face. You can overcome it by accepting your nervousness and then putting it aside. Here are a couple of things you can do to ease your nerves.
Prepare for your speech
Being prepared is the best thing you can do to combat the jitters. Make sure your material is organised and clear. Then review it and practise your speech over and over. The more time you spend practising what you're going to say, the better your speech will go. If you've worked hard - practised in front of others, timed your speech and recorded it - you'll feel more confident.
Be positive
The way you feel can affect your performance, so be positive. Try to feel good about what you have to say. Don't focus on making a mistake. Instead concentrate on the subject and audience and your goal - to inform, persuade and/or entertain.
Breathe deeply
One of the most important things to do before going on stage is to regulate your breath with deep breathing. Force yourself to take a couple of deep, relaxing breaths to slow down your heart rate and clear your mind.
Visualise
Your imagination can be a powerful tool when it comes to overcoming stage fright. Some speakers find that visualising something positive helps to relax them. You can try imagining yourself speaking confidently in front of an audience. Or focus on something that makes you happy.
Use body movements
One of the best ways to work off nervous energy is to move around a bit. Using facial expressions and hand gestures helps control the shakes. Another trick is to focus on a friendly face in the audience so that it feels like you're only talking to one person. Body movements don't just calm you down; they also keep the audience interested in what you're saying.
Control your voice
Controlling your voice can prevent you from stumbling over words. One of the most important things when you're giving a presentation is to slow down.
Aim for no more than 100 words per minute and pause between important points. This gives you time to organise your thoughts and also ensures that the audience has time to process what you're saying.
You can also change the force and pitch of your voice to liven up your talk. Speak louder and at a lower pitch to emphasise key points.
It's natural to feel nervous when you have to speak in front of others. But remember that most audiences are eager to listen to what you have to say. They're not going to focus on you, but on what you're talking about. So take a deep breath and go for it!
