Theres at least one point in our life when we are required to stand in front of people and speak to them. And no matter how we prepare, for some reason, we experience stage fright and our nerves can get the best of us.
But heres the good news. First, its normal, and it can happen to any person. Ive read somewhere that the great Barbra Streisand, one of the greatest entertainers on the planet who has performed countless times in front of thousands of crowds, get stage fright before her shows. Second, you can do something about this, and Ill give you some tips on how to overcome it.
When I was in high school, everytime we had to deliver a report in front of the class, older batches would tell us to slip a coin into our socks. Weird, right? But for some reason, it worked — just like in the case of Dumbo and his magical feather. Applying the same principle, before you go on stage and present, find something that can boost your confidence. Some people, for instance, look and feel comfortable in a new pair of clothes. (On the contrary, some people dont feel confident in something that theyre uncomfortable wearing.)
Second, interact with the audience before you present. This gives you a chance to break the ice and make everyone in the room, including you, comfortable with each other. To do this, you can ask a few questions for rapport.
Third, talk to your audience as if theyre your family members or friends. Be conversational in tone, add humor, and dont be stiff. This will make you personable, and in return, your audience will be more forgiving, which results to overcoming your nerves.
Fourth, know your audiences weaknesses. Doing this will give you an edge, and will boost your confidence. One way to do this is to encourage audience participation. This will give you a chance to know your audiences knowledge about the topic. Youll know what they already know, and what they need to know. This will also allow you to find their weakness, which, in return will make you less intimidated by them.
Fifth, know and understand your weaknesses. But instead of working on them, compensate for them by capitalizing on your strengths instead.
Learn how to be an effective public speaker here…
