3. The Truth About Stage Fright
• stage fright (noun):
nervousness felt by a performer or speaker
when appearing before an audience.
• Very common, especially in school and public
speaking or performance.
• Usually becomes less prevalent in people who
perform regularly – you get used to it.
4. What causes it?
• Thinking about the risk of failure while doing a
presentation or performance.
• Thinking about your own appearance and
behavior.
• Being nervous about the quality and the
information of your presentation.
• Your personal need to do well/better than
others, and panic if you feel you are failing.
5. Effects?
• First, nervousness and
reluctance to speak.
• Next, quick heartbeat and
breathing, shaking, dizziness.
• Advanced –
‘Fight or Flight’ reflex,
cold hands and feet,
fuzzy sight, and finally,
fainting from high BP.
6. The Solution?
Take a few minutes to suggest something
yourselves…
Make a list of ways for overcoming stage fright!
7. The Solution
There are many ways to deal with stage fright:
• Think about what you are saying – be absorbed
in your speech.
• Say something you believe in – facts and results.
• Do not believe you will fail – expect success.
• Remember, the audience wants you to speak.
• Do not try to hurry – take your time.
• Do not apologize – it’s unnecessary and won’t
help.
8. The Definition of Courage
“The presence of willpower and spirit to face
and overcome fear, anxiety, uncertainty and
pain.”
(Not unable to feel fear, but able to overcome
it)
“Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human
qualities ... because it is the quality that
guarantees all others.” – Winston Churchill
9. Remember one thing:
Presenting is like exercise – it
becomes easier and easier
the more often and longer
you do it.
Stage fright is usually not a
problem anymore after the
first few times you
overcome it.
10. Other problems
A lack of courage isn’t always what causes stage
fright. Ways to give yourself stage fright are:
• Bad preparation and not enough practice.
• Failing to sync with your audience.
• Being tired or not eating before a presentation.
• Thinking about your audience person-by-person,
instead of just one large body.
• Panicking if you make a mistake, or if you think
your presentation isn’t going well.
11. How to avoid it?
Quickly, in groups,
try to make as
many tips as you
can for avoiding
stage fright
before you do
your
presentation.
It’s a race!
