Do you have stage fright, fear, nervousness, or anxiety in public speaking or presentations? If you do, don’t worry. I’ve worked with clients from every level of organizations, It is a very common issue. Yes, it happens to C-suite executives, too. Some of my clients would get jitters just by thinking of the word presentation or speaking. The good news is, there are simple and quick techniques that could help you manage that.
Hi, this is Cynthia, your voice coach. I’m going to make a bold promise. In this video, you are going to pick up one technique that will help you manage your nervousness in seconds. Possible?
You’ve probably heard many suggestions on overcoming stage fright and almost all of them ask you to prepare prepare and prepare. I don’t quite agree. Many of my clients still experience stage fright no matter how familiar they are with their material. These suggestions failed to address one fundamental problem, that is focus.
Whether you feel panic the night before your presentation or the moment before you walk onto the stage, do you remember what was going on in your mind?
“OMG, I’m so nervous. Oh I couldn’t think. Oh my throat is so tight and dry.”
Or “What if I forget what to say? What if I stumble on words?
In either of the above thoughts, did you notice where the focuses were?
Yes, it was on either the fear itself or what could happen to you. There’s a saying, “Where focus goes, energy flows.” (I think it’s said by Anthony Robbins.) If you focus on the fear or what could go wrong, you are going to feel more and more panic. The very first solution to overcoming your stage fright is to shift your focus.
Yeah, easier said. Some of my clients said, “I just couldn’t stop thinking of the fear. So difficult.”
You are going to learn one exercise. This exercise will not only help you shift your focus automatically, but help you bring back your control over your body and make you feel relaxed.
Ready for the exercise?
OK. To do this exercise, we are going to stand up.
Stand tall with your two feet slightly apart, hip width and arms aside. Now take a deep and slow breath through your mouth, as your take the breath, tense up your feet, lock your knees, tighten your thighs, lift up your shoulders and clench your fists and teeth. Hold the breath and the tension for a while. Then slowly release them while you breathe out.
You try it.
Why does this exercise work?
First, when you tense up your body. You shift your focus from fear to the muscle tension, which also helps you bring back your control over the body. Then, when you breathe out and release the tension, you are more relaxed.
Do this exercise a few times when you are nervous.
Doing this exercise does not mean you don’t need to prepare your presentation any more.
Preparation IS important, but you must make sure you’ve prepared your material in a way that helps you internalize the content and ensures audience engagement. There’s a system for that. Once you put everything into the system, your presentation just flows and you won’t worry about it.
If you’d like to overcome your stage fright and speak with confidence and composure, feel free to contact me. I’d love to work with you and help you in your journey.
