“Speaking in public is Zayn’s greatest fear. He is certain that everyone can hear his voice quivering and see the sweat dripping down his forehead. His friend, James, always gives amazing presentations without trembling or stuttering, he wishes he could be like him. James tells him that he is nervous as well but he tries to focus on ensuring he knows his stuff very well.”
Stage fright also known as performance anxiety is a common phenomenon regardless of which part of the world you live in. If you don’t suffer from stage fright personally, you must know someone who does. The fear of public speaking is one of the most common fears globally, affecting people of all ages and races. Racing heartbeat, sweating, shaking, stuttering, and a dry throat are common symptoms that people with stage fright experience.
If you experience any of these symptoms whenever you have to speak publicly or give a presentation, these tips might help you:
De-escalate the situation
Imagine you are trying to calm down a beloved friend who is dealing with stage fright, what would you say to him/her? You would try to assuage their fears and turn their negative self-talk to positive ones. Do the same with yourself. Instead of “I will suck at this” or “I will forget all I am meant to say”. Try “I prepared thoroughly for this, I know the content off-hand” or “I will do my best with my presentation and forget about the rest.” This sounds super easy but it’s a good way to calm yourself and reduce your stage fright before a speech.
Think “What’s the worst that could happen?”
If you can’t seem to calm yourself, think of the worst-case scenario. It might seem counter-intuitive but it works. Your brain can not maintain a high level of anxiety for an extended period of time; it reaches a peak and starts to decline. Think about it, the worst that could happen is “I will be embarrassed, I will forget my speech, or people won’t pay attention when I am speaking.” But the speech will come to an end and none of this might even happen at the end.
Arrive early and familiarize yourself with the environment
It’s always a good idea to be punctual, even more so when you have to give a speech. Being on time will allow you to check and double check that you have everything you need. Do you have your laptop, USB drive with the presentation, or your notes? Does every gadget work as they should? Struggling with wonky devices or missing notes as you are about to present can throw you off and worsen your stage fright.
Arriving early also gives you a chance to get familiar with the environment, especially if it’s your first time there. Find out the stage entry and exit points. Pick a strategic seat that gets you stage access with minimal stress. Making sure the pre-speech process is stress-free is the best way to calm your nerves and boost your motivation.
Prepare thoroughly 
This is the best way to stop stage fright. Ensure you are well-acquainted with the content of your presentation and the audience you will be presenting to. Even if you start off nervous, you will lose that nervousness once you get into the flow of your presentation. The only way to get into the flow is to be knowledgeable about the topic. In fact, you will be able to say a few words even if you have no notes or your laptop fails to work.
Conclusion
Stage fright is not a unique problem, people around the world deal with it on a daily basis. You might not be amazing at it but using these tips can make the thought less painful. Stage fright is all in your mind, so calm your nerves, prepare thoroughly, and turn those negative thoughts to positives.
